Research project at NC State could save lives of troops overseas

Updated?11/27/2012 02:38 PM

'); if(infobox=='True' && ShowInfoBox_l673317_1==false){ jQuery("#player_infobarl673317_1").trigger('click'); ShowInfoBox_l673317_1==true; } }; if (false) { $.setup_player(Play_Conf); } //info bar setup jQuery('#player_infobarl673317_1').click(function() { var $info =jQuery('#player_info_contentl673317_1'); if($info.text()!=''){ var $content = jQuery('div',$info); //min heigth var min = $content.css('min-height'); var max = $content.css('max-height'); $info.slideToggle(600); ShowInfoBox_l673317_1=!ShowInfoBox_l673317_1; } }); });

? To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

RALEIGH?Researchers at NC State University are working on a special mission for the Department of Defense that could one day save countless lives. The team is studying how to detect explosives, like road side bombs, and make them burn and melt using high energy sources.

At one time former Fort Bragg soldier Matthew Purvis, an undergraduate research assistant, spent countless hours defending the country in Afghanistan. Now Purvis spends that time in the NC State research lab discovering how to keep his fellow troops out of harm's way.

"I lost a couple good friends to roadside bombs and if I could you know help save some families some heartache like that than that would make all the hard work worth it," said Purvis.

Purvis and fellow researchers want to find a way to detect explosives overseas, such as roadside bombs or suicide vests, and defuse them in a way that's never been done before.

"Going after the explosive means that we need to develop totally new ways of looking for the explosive," said lead investigator on the project Lampe Distinguished Professor Michael Steer.

In order to make their mission a reality, Steer and his team must conduct research to understand what is possible. Ultimately they want to transmit sound or radio waves in narrow beams to sense bombs. Once that detection occurs, high energy sources can be sent into the IEDs to prevent them from exploding.

"That will make an energetic object, a roadside bomb burn and melt," said Steer.

The project may not be used in the field for another ten years or so, but the Army Research Office expects university based research programs like this one will provide the technology for the future.

"They'll be providing the technology that will protect our children as they grow up and move into the Department of Defense and it's very important for the long sustainment of the United States," said Chief Scientist for the Army Research Office Stephen Lee.

Purvis and others believe their work will make make a difference.

"Not only save lives of soldiers, but save lives of innocent people," said Purvis.

The Army Research Office said other university teams across the county are also working on different military-related protection devices.

Source: http://triangle.news14.com/content/top_stories/673317/research-project-at-nc-state-could-save-lives-of-troops-overseas

pebble beach clive davis cause of whitney houston death keanu reeves whitney houston national anthem beverly hills hotel beverly hills hotel