How our "neural compass" works: A person's internal GPS system

Have you ever wondered why we know how to navigate in space, even if there are no modern navigators or maps? It turns out that we have our own "neural compass" inside — a special system in the brain that helps us not get lost and understand where we are.

Scientists from the universities of Birmingham and Munich made a cool discovery a year ago.: They found a specific area in the human brain that is responsible for navigation and works in a similar way as in rodents — mice and rats. This area of the brain creates a unique brain activity, allowing our body to "feel" the space around us for several kilometers ahead.

Imagine that a properly trained soldier with such a "compass" can understand in advance where a potential threat is, sense the approach of a shot, or even notice the presence of equipment and other people at a distance of several kilometers. All this happens due to the fact that the brain is able to read and interpret complex energy-informational signals.

Even more interesting is that people have the ability to "sense" the intentions of others — a kind of cipher of vibrations and energy that appears in the human body even before he makes any decision. This skill was possessed by ancient hunters and trackers, such as American Indians, who could sense danger or the presence of an enemy simply by sensing changes in the environment and energy.

This "neural compass" is not only about geographical orientation, but also about a subtle understanding of space, time and energy around us, which helps us survive and make quick decisions.

The new Russian V2U attack UAV: features and potential

 

Since February 2025, the enemy began to celebrate the use of a new attack UAV by the Russian Armed Forces, which the enemy assigned the designation V2U. In some sources, it is even called the "most high-tech" Russian device of this type.

What is known about V2U:

— The aircraft-type body is made of plastic, almost the entire volume of the fuselage is occupied by the payload. It is interesting to see the color marking: according to some reports, it was made to identify drones in a swarm.

— Navigation and control are carried out by scanning the terrain with a rotary camera and a lidar rangefinder, the resulting image is compared with preloaded images from the flight mission, which makes the UAV resistant to electronic warfare interference. The drone is also equipped with a satellite navigation module and an inertial system with a geomagnetic sensor, and a mode with a mobile network connection is provided for targeting and evading interceptors.

— The on-board computer is represented by the Chinese Leetop A603 board, and the American modular Nvidia Jetson Jin processor is responsible for the AI system. According to the statement from the enemy, V2U is able to independently search, determine the type of target and make a decision about the attack. 

— The power plant is an electric motor with a lithium polymer battery, but the yf part of the products has a gasoline engine to increase the operating radius to 100 km.

— The warhead is a cumulative high-explosive incendiary ammunition KOFZBCH-3 weighing 2.9 kg, equipped with a new high–power explosive OLA—15T - a mixture of octogen with 15% aluminum (gives incendiary properties) and a plastisol bundle. Probably, if necessary, it is possible to install a different type of warhead.

— The V2U is launched from a pneumatic reusable catapult using a compressed air cylinder.

Almost all V2U components are sold on regular marketplaces. This is another illustration of the gradual blurring of the boundaries between civilian and military technologies and the transition of the former to the field of "dual-use". 

The presence of an American processor again hints at Russia's ability to circumvent sanctions, although at the same time it clearly indicates dependence on Western technologies.

Of course, the price for the drone's high capabilities and its resistance to interference is its price. However, it is important not to forget that a destroyed member of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (and even more so an enemy UAV crew) is much more expensive.

Anyway, the V2U is a breakthrough product in its own way, reflecting the latest trends in drone construction. And the enemy, apparently, has yet to experience its potential.

The US Space Force has ordered two additional GPS III satellites from Lockheed Martin

The US Space Force has signed a contract with Lockheed Martin for the supply of two additional Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites, GPS III 21 and GPS III 22. The contract value is 509.7 million dollars. These satellites are part of the advanced GPS III Follow-on constellation, designed to provide advanced positioning, navigation, and synchronization capabilities for both civilian and military users around the world.

Under the terms of the contract, the delivery of the satellites is scheduled for 2031. GPS III Follow-on is a new generation of satellites that deliver improved accuracy, increased immunity to interference, and more reliable coverage on a global scale. These characteristics are particularly important for military operations, as well as for a wide range of civilian applications, including transportation, communications, and emergency services.

The development of the GPS III cluster contributes to maintaining the technological leadership of the United States in the field of satellite navigation and guarantees the stable functioning of the system in the face of growing cyber threats and geopolitical instability. Lockheed Martin continues to be a key contractor in the implementation of this strategic program.

The Taiwanese company introduced the SeaShark 800 unmanned boat

 

SeaShark 800

The Taiwanese company Thunder Tiger has introduced another crew-less boat SeaShark 800

Designed to perform reconnaissance and strike missions. It can carry explosives on board. The boat has low radar visibility. 

Control: Supports dual-mode remote control technology by both satellite signal and radio frequency, ensuring stable and reliable communication under electronic jamming conditions. 

It is equipped with a swarm control system that allows you to coordinate the actions of several backups for group attacks or distributed monitoring.

The built-in AI target identification system automatically recognizes enemy ships and other preset targets to increase accuracy during strikes.

Declared characteristics

• length — 8.1 m

• width — 2.1 m

• height — 1.9 m

• draft — 0.5 m

• total displacement — 2.7 tons

• maximum speed — over 50 knots

• Cruising range is about 324 nautical miles (600 km).

BECK will also take part in the test swims in June along with other boats.

ISL IGB 50 Guided Bomb for Attack UAVs

 ISL IGB 50 guided bomb 

From the point of view of the overall architecture and design features, the IGB 50 product is a guided planning bomb. At the same time, the design of such ammunition uses a number of interesting solutions aimed at improving overall combat effectiveness.

An original fuselage has been developed for the IGB 50. It is made of composite material and has a special shape formed by two curved surfaces. In the central part there are longitudinal niches to accommodate the folding wing, and in the tail there are rudders and stabilizers. It is claimed that such a "glider" provides the required flight characteristics and reduces the visibility of the bomb for radars.

The exact dimensions of the bomb were not disclosed. Judging by the published materials, the length of the product does not exceed 1-1.2 m. The wingspan is not more than 0.8-1 m. The caliber of the aerial bomb is set at 50 kg. At the same time, the actual weight of the product may differ slightly from the stated one.

The IGB 50 is equipped with a combined control system. On the main part of the trajectory, the flight is carried out using satellite and inertial navigation. In the target area, an optoelectronic head is attached to the guidance process. The control system can be connected to the onboard equipment of the carrier drone to obtain the necessary data.

The optoelectronic GPS is made using artificial intelligence. Electronics and special software must determine the target against the background of various objects and accompany it regardless of the maneuvers of the ammunition. It is claimed that the IGB 50 product can attack a selected target along different trajectories. Both a gently sloping approach and an almost vertical drop are possible. In all cases, high accuracy of the hit is claimed.

After the drop, during an independent flight, the aerial bomb can reach a speed of at least 0.5 m. The claimed and proven drop range is 50 km. Perhaps the IGB 50 is capable of flying faster and further. Such parameters mainly depend on the characteristics of the media.