Latest news with #ERDC
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Puraffinity and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Partner to Advance PFAS Remediation Technologies
US Army and Puraffinity will conduct a series of laboratory and field trials. LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, July 20, 2025 / / -- Puraffinity, a leading innovator of advanced adsorbents for the removal of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), announces a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). The goal of the collaboration is to conduct research and field demonstrations involving Puraffinity's Puratech G400, an adsorbent material developed for the treatment of PFAS-contaminated waters. Under this agreement, ERDC and Puraffinity will conduct a series of laboratory and field trials. These trials will compare the performance of Puratech G400 with other PFAS treatment technologies such as Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) and Ion Exchange Resins (IEX). The primary objective is to explore Puratech G400's potential in improving treatment outcomes and reducing operating expenses (OPEX) and capital expenditure (CAPEX) in PFAS remediation. The research will target contamination sources from legacy facilities, including aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF). The key research objectives include: • Conducting laboratory and pilot-scale testing using real-world PFAS-contaminated water samples from both Department of Defense (DoD) and non-DoD sites. • Developing performance data to inform potential future applications on DoD installations and other settings. • Evaluating the use of Puratech G400 as a complementary or polishing step to existing destruction technologies. 'This collaboration with the ERDC marks a significant milestone in our mission to deliver innovative, scalable, and sustainable PFAS treatment technologies,' said Vincent Caillaud, CEO of Puraffinity. 'We are proud to work alongside one of the world's foremost research institutions to generate robust performance data and contribute meaningfully to the field of PFAS remediation.' The research initiative forms part of a broader strategic effort, reflecting Puraffinity's commitment to scientific rigor and collaborative innovation with government, industry, and academic stakeholders addressing the global PFAS challenge. Ade Alao Puraffinity [email protected] Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Fox News
5 days ago
- Fox News
US Army tests robot coyotes to prevent catastrophic bird strikes
Why settle for a regular robot when you can have a robot coyote? That's the innovative question the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) is answering as it rolls out robot coyotes for airfield wildlife control. These cybernetic prairie predators are a creative solution to a very real problem. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — free when you join my Airfields face a constant battle with wildlife. Birds, rabbits and even deer can wander onto runways, creating dangerous situations for aircraft and crews. Birds are the biggest threat. When sucked into engines or hitting windscreens, they can cause catastrophic damage. In fact, the threat is so serious that the U.S. Civil Air Administration once built a "chicken gun" to fire bird carcasses at planes to test their resilience. Traditional deterrents, like drones, dogs, falcons and even gas-powered cannons, have been used for years. But wildlife adapts quickly, and these methods don't always keep animals away for long. Enter the robot coyote. The ERDC, in partnership with wildlife biologists Stephen Hammond and Jacob Jung and the USDA National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC), has spent five years developing these unique machines. The idea is simple. Most animals instinctively avoid coyotes, so why not use that fear to keep them away from airfields? The first prototypes, Coyote Rovers, started as Boston Dynamics Spot robots. However, these proved too slow to scare off wildlife. The team switched to four-wheeled Traxxas X-Maxx motorized cars, which can reach speeds of 20 mph. Each vehicle carries a plastic coyote dummy, blending just the right amount of realism and intimidation, all for about $3,000 each. The robot coyotes have already been tested at several military airfields, including Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fort Campbell and Naval Air Station Whiting Field. These early trials showed promise. The robot coyotes successfully deterred birds and other animals, helping to keep runways clear and safe. But the ERDC isn't stopping there. The goal is to make these robot coyotes even smarter. Future versions may include programmed routes, exclusion zones and the ability to identify specific species. Imagine a robot coyote that can recognize a flock of geese and adjust its tactics on the fly. The ERDC and USDA-NWRC are continuing to refine these robot coyotes for airfield wildlife control. New features are on the horizon, including onboard computers, artificial intelligence, cameras and sensors. The aim is to create a robust system that can operate autonomously, navigate tough terrain and adapt to changing conditions. These advances could revolutionize how airfields, and perhaps even commercial airports, manage wildlife hazards. Robot coyotes for airfield wildlife control are a creative and practical answer to a longstanding problem. By blending technology and biology, the U.S. Army is making airfields safer for everyone. As these systems become more advanced, we may see them used in airports around the world. If robot coyotes can keep wildlife off runways, what other surprising animal-inspired robots might we see patrolling our critical infrastructure in the future? Let us know by writing to us at Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — free when you join my Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
Toronto Sun
13-07-2025
- Science
- Toronto Sun
Robot coyotes eyed by U.S. army to protect fighter jets from wildlife
U.S. Army researchers have developed an unmanned ground vehicle featuring plastic coyotes mounted on top that can help deter problematic wildlife such as birds. Photo by U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center / LinkedIn American researchers have come up with a novel idea to keep birds and other wildlife away from fighter jets stationed at airfields across the U.S. Robot coyotes. Researchers at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) released an image of three unmanned ground vehicles with life-size plastic figures mounted on top in a grassy field near the U.S. navy's elite Blue Angels fighter jet demonstration team. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Not 'Coyote Ugly' but rather 'Robot Coyotes'. The US Army's newest trick for protecting aircraftThe US Army has found an unlikely ally in its fight to protect military aircraft. Its Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) has developed 'coyote rovers,' four-wheeled… — Mike Alderson FRSA (@OpenEyeComms) July 12, 2025 In other words, they repurposed the scarecrow and replaced it with fake predators. The centre said in a social media post they are aiming to help 'biologists and managers at military airfields deter wildlife, particularly problematic birds, from posing a risk to flight crews, aircraft and operations.' Last year, the centre began collaborating with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Wildlife Research Center in Ohio to test the effectiveness of Coyote Rovers at scaring off wildlife through several trials. Shea Hammond, a research biologist for ERDC, said he and Jacob Jung, an ERDC research wildlife biologist, have worked on the developing the Coyote Rovers over the last five years. RECOMMENDED VIDEO This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Hammond believes that the technology could also be used by civil infrastructure authorities as well as the military. 'They basically have the same functionality as any other drone,' Hammond told the Army Times . 'We can program areas we want to exclude it from going, such as the airfield itself. We had worked on docking stations and recharging stations so it can operate on a programmed timer, so it can have utility for multiple days.' Hammond said scientists could employ artificial intelligence and machine-learning skills in future versions of the Coyote Rovers. In the past, dogs were sometimes used to deter wildlife from getting near expensive military aircraft, equipment and buildings, Hammond noted. But that job could be done better by these coyote robots, he added. Read More Golf Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA Toronto Raptors Toronto & GTA
Time of India
13-07-2025
- Time of India
ED attaches Sethna's property worth 6.8cr
Ahmedabad: The Enforcement Directorate 's (ED) Ahmedabad zonal office provisionally attached assets belonging to practising chartered accountant Tehmul Sethna. The three properties include a bungalow and two open plots worth Rs 6.8 crore located in Ahmedabad, a release said. Sethna, who rose to fame as the CA of Mahesh Shah, disclosed an income of Rs 13,860 crore in the aftermath of demonetisation. He faces charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with an ongoing investigation related to the Environment Research and Development Centre (ERDC). An FIR was filed with the Navrangpura police station under sections related to criminal conspiracy, cheating, and forgery, the release said. The release added that while handling all the affairs of the ERDC trust, he allegedly executed unauthorised withdrawals worth Rs 6.85 crore from the trust's account using forged signatures of the trustees. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad He routed these withdrawals through multiple individuals/entities, creating a maze of transactions to conceal the true source of money and to showcase the tainted money as untainted, the release said. TNN
Miami Herald
09-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
General Atomics Demonstrates PFAS Destruction System for Minnesota Congresswoman, State and Local Officials
PERSES System Delivered to Lake Elmo Facility to Destroy PFAS Waste SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESS Newswire / June 9, 2025 / General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) announced today that Minnesota Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN) and other members of state and local government attended a real-time demonstration of the complete destruction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) waste streams using GA-EMS' PERSES™ waste destruction system at a site located in Lake Elmo, MN on Friday, May 30. The PERSES system is on-site at the Lake Elmo facility for a four-week period to demonstrate the system's industrial-scale capabilities to destroy a wide variety of PFAS and PFAS contaminated waste. The PERSES system will be shipped to other suitable test sites for additional on-site PFAS destruction testing and demonstrations. "This is an exciting day as we learn how to break down the toxic chemical bond of PFAS. Through Department of Defense investment and private-sector innovation, General Atomics has achieved an extraordinary scientific breakthrough by completing a successful PFAS remediation in a controlled setting," said Congresswoman McCollum. "But there's still work to be done. Now, we must focus on scaling this technology so that it can be a solution for communities and military installations at large to eliminate the threat of PFAS pollution." GA-EMS is conducting the on-site demonstrations under a contract award by Bay West LLC, an environmental and remediation company leading a research program funded by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) to deliver, install, and operate PERSES for multiple project demonstrations to destroy PFAS and PFAS contaminated waste. "We are extremely pleased to be working with Bay West and ERDC in welcoming Congresswoman McCollum, state, regional and local officials to witness the effectiveness of PERSES in the destruction of PFAS," said Scott Forney, president of GA-EMS. "On-site demonstrations such as this bring the power of PERSES directly into a community to demonstrate in person the system's capabilities to safely and efficiently eliminate PFAS from a broad range of waste media including landfill leachate, biosolid "sludge", soils and sediment, firefighting foam, and granular activated carbon and resin beads from filtration treatment systems. PERSES is the most effective tool in the waste remediation toolkit that can help bring an end to the forever cycle of PFAS contamination." PERSES utilizes GA-EMS' proven industrial Supercritical Water Oxidation (iSCWO) technology which has been in commercial use for more than a decade to effectively destroy PFAS and more than 200 hazardous and non-hazardous types of waste with 99.99% and greater efficiency. In a single process, PERSES destroys PFAS and PFAS waste with co-contaminants leaving behind only water, salts, and carbon dioxide which can be safely released into the environment with no post-treatment requirement. Bay West is a nationally recognized environmental consulting and remediation company headquartered in St. Paul, MN that provides solutions to government and commercial enterprises to navigate complex environmental concerns and ongoing remediation challenges. ERDC is an integral component of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and helps solve the nation's most challenging civil and military engineering, geospatial sciences, water resources, and environmental sciences for the Army, DoD, civilian agencies. SOURCE: General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems press release
