Nanotech Paints For Military

pmacwill wrote to us with a recent article on Pennet in regards to the U.S. military's proposed use of nanotech paints. Actually, it goes beyond proposal -- and beyond paint, as it would allow vehicles to change camo patterns very easily, and would also repair micro-cracks and fractures without the need for service.

Comments

Sounds great

[Quasar1999]

But what about the automotive industry? Where planned obsolesence will no longer work if this technology is introduced? Sure it's military technology now, but in a few years, it'll trickle into the main stream... and then what? Are the cars of the future going to come with a monthly service fee? Cuz right now planned obsolesence is what keeps them in the black... If I could buy a car that would fix itself for years to come, I would. Why buy a new one every 3-5 years as we're required to now since all the damn parts break...

Re:Sounds great

[tswinzig]

But what about the automotive industry? Where planned obsolesence will no longer work if this technology is introduced?

Calm down, man, we're talking about paint that MIGHT be able to make repair cracks in the paint job. This is not going to keep your car working.

Sure it's military technology now, but in a few years, it'll trickle into the main stream... and then what?

No, it's not even military technology now... they are in the EARLY EARLY EARLY planning stages. You're looking at many years from now before this technology is available.

Cuz right now planned obsolesence is what keeps them in the black...

Strange, I thought selling cars for more than it cost to make them is what kept them in the black.

If I could buy a car that would fix itself for years to come, I would.

But you can't, so you won't.

Why buy a new one every 3-5 years as we're required to now since all the damn parts break...

fixing paint cracks != fixing cars

YIKES!

(I bet you don't even change your oil and oil filter every 3000 miles, do you? Then you wonder why your engine breaks down.)

electroic signture.

[tcd004]

Ok, pure speculation here. Wouldn't a military vehicle buzzing with nanomachines likely give off some sort of electroic signature that would be easy to detect? Just a question. I'm sure there are ways around it.

tcd004
What would you do with your own Oil company?

Re:Because you know they're going to get slashdott

[dave_mcmillen]

"What we hope this coating can do is amazing. We're also looking at making it seem invisible." . . . A prototype "smart" coating may be developed as early as 2005, she says.

I'm always unimpressed with this sort of "news". Of course what they hope it can do is amazing! And a lot of things "may" happen as early as 2005. But is there anything that indicates that they're making real progress? This is like a not-very-detailed grant proposal, in press release form.

To hear about cool things that one might do with nanotech, you're better off browsing the science fiction section of your local bookstore.

Re:As if the military wasn't ass kicking enough

[SuiteSisterMary]

See, therein lies the problem. The paradigm has changed, and the military needs to change with it.

Who cares if your chobham armour can shrug off 120 mm rounds, if the attack isn't coming from a T-80, but rather from a child who is willing to sacrifice their life to smuggle a small container of nerve gas into your bivouac?

Or, put another way, ask the Soviets how much help their tank armour was when they invaded Afghanistan.