Cybersecurity
DHS Launching First Federal Civilian Position Exempt from Longevity Requirements
The Cyber Talent Management System has been in the works since a 2014 law granted the department authorities to sidestep rigid classification formats such as the General Schedule.
Emerging Tech
Argonne National Lab Inches Closer to Exascale Age with New ‘Testbed’ Supercomputer
Polaris will support the Energy Department’s user community as it prepares for new, more powerful computing capabilities.
Digital Government
Air Force’s Kendall Creates Space Acquisition Office, Accelerates Absorption of Space Development Agency
And the new service secretary is asking Congress to allow him to move faster yet.
Ideas
Military Drone Testing Could Lead to Future Deployments and Roles
Theoretically, autonomous vehicles and drones could play a decisive role on the modern battlefield.
Emerging Tech
Senators Look to Continue Government-Led Research into Strange UFO Sightings
There appears to be a nexus between unidentified aerial phenomena-aligned activity and U.S. nuclear technology sites, a former fed said.
Artificial Intelligence
Critical Update: When Seeing No Longer Means Believing, What’s a Government to Do?
Agencies and lawmakers are moving to combat deepfakes and other synthetic media used as powerful tools in disinformation campaigns.
Emerging Tech
Rescue Robots Get a Speed Upgrade for Rough Terrain
A new planning algorithm helps robots figure out how to balance with hands and feet.
Ideas
Why the Feds Are Investigating Tesla’s Autopilot and What that Means for the Future of Self-Driving Cars
Tesla’s Autopilot enables hands-free driving, but it’s not meant to allow drivers to take their eyes off the road.
Ideas
Lesson from a Robot Swarm: Change Group Behavior by Talking One-on-One Rather than Getting on a Soapbox
Persuading people one-on-one might be the best route to getting them to recognize better alternatives.
Emerging Tech
The Texas National Guard Just Unveiled the Largest 3D Printed Structure in North America
But Russia and China are preparing to 3D print hypersonic components.
Emerging Tech
NASA Wants Industry to Build Next-Generation Space Stations
The space agency is looking to industry to design and build destinations in space that can be used for tourism and science-based missions.
Emerging Tech
Drug Enforcement Feds Want Augmented Reality to Monitor U.S./Mexico Border
The agency is already putting some capabilities to use.
Digital Government
GSA’s First Centers of Excellence Customer Touts $50M in Cost Avoidance
After three years, the Agriculture Department launched a cloud office, consolidated contact centers and stood up more than a hundred dashboards.
Emerging Tech
California Lawmakers Call for NOAA-Led Research Testbeds to Study and Stop Wildfires
The legislation would commit $15 million to such a pursuit in fiscal 2022.
Emerging Tech
Fish Fins Are Teaching Us the Secret to Flexible Robots and New Shape-Changing Materials
Materials based on a segmented structure could be used in underwater propulsion and improve the agility and speed of fish-inspired submarines.
Ideas
Building Resiliency into the Future of the Federal Government
Creating a digital workplace that enables government users to work virtually from anywhere with the productivity, personalization and security they need is vital to digital resiliency.
Emerging Tech
VA’s Extended Reality Network Expanding Across Agency
There are more than 75 Veterans Health Administration sites using extended reality in some fashion.
Emerging Tech
Cryptocurrency Company Makes Case for Running its Own Local Government
A Nevada commission is studying the concept. An executive with Blockchains Inc. says its plans for an "innovation zone" won't work inside an existing county.
Ideas