Monthly Archives: May 2022

Photos have surfaced online reportedly showing F2000 assault rifles in the hands of Ukrainian armed forces. The photos also serve as yet another example of a somewhat rare small arm being put to use on the Ukrainian battlefield.

The two photos in question, both posted to Twitter, dont offer much context in terms of the details surrounding the F2000 delivery. In one photo, a Ukrainian soldier in a nondescript uniform and location reclines alone with the weapon in hand. In the other image, three Ukrainian soldiers are photographed in varying uniforms holding the polymer-clad rifles while standing in front of a pick-up truck. There are few common denominators shared between the photos, with the F2000 being one of them.

Belgian company FN Herstal is the manufacturer of the F2000, which was produced by the company to address a need for a modern and modular assault rifle and was first debuted in 2001. The weapon features a compact bullpup layout, which means that the action and the chamber are located behind the trigger parallel to the shooters face as opposed to in front of it, as is with most modern military rifle designs. This not only reduces the length of the rifle, but it makes it an ideal rifle choice for ambidextrous shooters.

The F2000 can also be tailored with various additions to better fit the intended mission. An M303 underbarrel module could be fitted to fire tear gas canisters for peace-keeping operations, or the rifle could be equipped with 40mm FN EGLM grenade launchers and a proprietary computerized fire control system for more lethality. Although, none of these add-ons can be seen on the rifles in the photos.

It should also be noted that the rifles appear to be F2000 models in their original configurations. More recent iterations of the weapon designed for customers like Slovenia possess visibly different characteristics, which could further support the claim that Belgium is the supplier of the F2000s in question. The rifles were used to an extent in Poland and Spain, as well, serving as additional potential sources for the delivery. The remaining known buyers of the F2000s are in the Middle East and Asia, which are not known to be among the countries that have donated weapons to supplement Ukrainian forces.

In the tweet posted by Ukraine Weapons Tracker, which is a Twitter account run by individuals that track publicly available information regarding weapons and other equipment used in the conflict, it is mentioned that Ukraine has received 10,000 rifles from Belgium, including SCAR-L and FNC. Although, it is unclear whether or not F2000 assault rifles were included in that donation.

While it is confirmed that Belgium has donated 5,000 FNC-type assault rifles, 200 anti-tank weapons, and 3,800 tons of fuel to the Ukrainian government, there has been no official mention of SCAR-L deliveries much less an F2000 shipment. However, both SCAR-L and F2000 rifles have been photographed on Ukrainian soil and shared on social media.

The FNC-type assault rifles that are confirmed by the Belgian Ministry of Defense to have been donated are also designed by FN Herstal, which could further support the claim that Belgium had a hand in the sudden appearance of the F2000s on Ukrainian battlefields. These weapons are in the process of being gradually replaced by the FN SCAR-L, making it a logical choice to send to Ukraine as Belgiums capability will not be hindered by the depletion of the stock.

Despite the quantity and means of delivery being up in the air, the sudden appearance of the F2000 rifles does underscore a strange sourcing trend that has become somewhat of a common occurrence. Prior to the conflict, members of Ukraine's volunteer territorial defense forces were seen using a varied array of guns that individuals had sourced themselves. This odd development was brought on in response to a straightforward need for small arms.

As volunteers flooded into Ukraine, and as Ukraine's militia ranks ballooned, the demand for rifles quickly began to outpace the supply. Thus, the guns sent over in foreign aid packages, like that of the FNC-type assault rifles mentioned earlier, have predictably begun to appear in these volunteer units. It will be interesting to see if the F2000s meet the same fate.

Ukraine's armed forces are already strong proponents of polymer-covered bullpup designs. They make their own rifle called the Malyuk which is popular among Ukrainian special operations forces and they also build a version of Israel's Tavor called the Fort-221 under license. You can read about both of those rifles in Ukrainian service here.

Needless to say, domestically supplied weapons are becoming harder to come by as the conflict rages on, reserves diminish, and demand increases. Otherwise rare, smaller arms are becoming less and less surprising to see on battleground, with Polands Grot C16A2 assault rifles having also made an appearance, for example.

There are also rumors of privately funded weapons buys occurring to equip volunteer forces.

While Ukrainian forces are surely making do with what they have, the sources through which they have acquired many of their weapons arent always clear. But that doesnt seem to matter to the Ukrainian volunteers and militia members in need of small arms, and likely wont anytime soon.

Contact the author: Emma@thewarzone.com

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Futuristic Belgian F2000 Rifles Have Been Spotted In Ukrainian Hands - The War Zone

When looked at closely, the concept Asahi Kasei AKXY2 can be seen featuring a split body with a streamlined lower section and an upper glass canopy.

By : HT Auto Desk |Updated on: 26 May 2022, 03:55 PM

To mark its its centennial, Japans Asahi Kasei has unveiled the AKXY2 concept pod vehicle. The vehicle has been designed to reimagine values of sustainability, satisfaction and society and how these will influence the needs of future mobility on the road to automation and electrification. The new concept and futuristic pod shares some visual similarities with the Wienermobile.

When looked at closely, the concept AKXY2 can be seen featuring a split body with a streamlined lower section and an upper glass canopy. The latter can be lifted up vertically, while a door folds down to provide access to the cabin. The exterior of the vehicle features slender lighting units and aerodynamic wheel covers with transparent inserts. The model rides on S-SBR tyres, which are made from a bio-based butadiene and have a low rolling resistance.

(Also read | Mercedes-AMG introduces all-electric Vision AMG concept car)

The cabin also has a futuristic design language, featuring an ottoman as well as two individual seats with Cubit cushioning. It features a 3D mesh material made of PET and partially bio-based PTT. Other interior surroundings have Dinamica microfiber upholstery; there's a small wooden table, and a minimalist information display.

The model lacks a steering wheel and pedals, and one can safely assume that the concept is envisioned to be fully autonomous. The technology features on the vehicle extend beyond the driving system. The concept vehicle has been equipped with the company's Healthy Car Portfolio of products. Among the features, there are antimicrobial fabrics and a CO2 sensor that works to ensure optimal air quality."

The AKXY2 concept showcases the Japanese automaker's expertise as a trusted partner to OEMs and Tier-1s for both interior and exterior components and technology, said Asahi Kasei, America's Director of North American Mobility, Mike Franchy. He added that the company has come a long way in the past 100 years and he's looking forward to seeing these contributions continue to shape the automotive industry."

First Published Date: 26 May 2022, 03:53 PM IST

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This futuristic, autonomous pod vehicle is a living room on wheels - HT Auto

Talk about shock and awe.War From Space

Russian forces are continuing their all-out assault on Ukraine a catastrophic and needless humanitarian crisis that isn't likely to end any time soon.

The extensive shelling of several Ukrainian cities has been so severe,in fact, that the invasion can literally be seen from space, in a shocking reminder of the devastating scale of the ongoing war.

"When you're in space, you feel so far away at first," European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Matthias Maurer, who recently completed his 177 day stint on board the space station, told German broadcaster ARD.

The invasion "was clearly visible to the naked eye from space," he recalled, adding that he could spot "huge black columns of smoke over cities like Mariupol," a port city that has been leveled by Russian forces.

Maurer recalls spotting the earliest signs of the conflict from the ISS.

"At the beginning of the war, the whole country went dark at night," he told ARD.

"People actually only recognized Kyiv," he added. "Then you could also see the impacts in the first days of the war. In Kyiv, you could see lightning at night," even when individual rockets made impact with their targets.

Despite Russia's ongoing presence on the International Space Station, Maurer argued that that all crew members agreed pretty quickly on the fact that "terrible things are happening in Ukraine."

It's hard to get a full grasp of what it must be like, cohabitating with Russian forces within the tight confines of the space station.

But according to other first hand accounts, things have remained civilized and peaceful so far, with the only notable difference being the occasional awkward conversation.

War, unsurprisingly,is hard to watch unfold,evenfrom hundreds of miles above the Earth.

"War seen from above is a hundred times more irrational than from the ground," Maurer told ARD. "Why don't we humans stick together?"

More on the invasion: NASA Astronaut Heard Rumor of Being Abandoned in Space From His Wife

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Astronaut Says the Ukraine War Is So Brutal He Could See It From Space - Futurism

It might not be too long until robots are whizzing around your home picking up mess and doing the daily dishes. Dyson has just announced that it's investing heavily in this futuristic technology with plans to create a new robotics centre at Hullavington Airfield in Wiltshire plus a huge recruitment drive which will see almost 1,000 new staff being employed over the next five years.

This new breed of bots could help consumers with those tedious everyday chores such as cleaning, tidying and unpacking the dishwasher. To show the firm is serious about its plans it has released a video showing some of its upcoming inventions including a robot that vacuums the sofa and a hand that's capable of picking up objects without damaging them.

There's no word just yet on exactly what Dyson has planned for the homes of the future or when they will arrive in your kitchen the company is clearly serious about its ambitions.

This latest robotics makeover is the next stage in Dysons 2.75bn investment plan in new technologies, products and facilities; 600m of which is to be spent this year.

Speaking about the new venture, Jake Dyson, Chief Engineer at Dyson, said: Dyson employed its first roboticist 20 years ago and this year alone we are seeking 250 more experts for our team. This is a big bet on future robotic technology that will drive research across the whole of Dyson, in areas including mechanical engineering, vision systems, machine learning and energy storage. We need the very best people in the world to come and join us now.

Of course, it's not just about robotics with Dyson also about to launch its new Zone headphones.

These music-makers not only belt out your favourite playlists but also clean the air you are about to breathe in.

Fans and filters in each earcup suck in the polluted air around you with things then purified before being blown into your noise and mouth via a face shield.

They may look pretty whacky but with the latest figures from the World Health Organisation suggesting that billions of us are constantly breathing in highly polluted air, the famous vacuum might just be onto something.

Read more here:
Forget vacuums! Dyson is developing futuristic robots that will live in your home - Express

Jason Silva, futurist and host of National Geographics Brain Games,recently published a mind-bending YouTube video combining the technological prowess of AI with the artistic creativity of someone who believes in the power of psychoactive experiences.

Its called Dreaming while awake: a journey into ourselves. The description on Silvas YouTube channel describes the video as:

The first art piece of the singularity: born from a human-AI collaboration by Jason Silva, Hueman Instrument and digital intelligence.

Personally, Id describe it as a surrealistic experience that seems equal parts Ted Talk and Burning Man. And, Id add, it makes me want to eat a bunch of psychedelic mushrooms and think about the future.

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Take a look:

The video comes to us from Silvas Shots of Awe channel which features inspirational videos. Most touch upon the human condition and how what we create ultimately shapes who we are.

Silvas bent, in general, seems to be that our brightest future will come from a dedication to developing human-centered technologies.

In the above video, Silva spends six minutes riffing on the nature of being human. At one point, he explains that were both gods and worms, creatures able to shape the world around us with the power of deity, yet destined for death regardless.

Its an existential trip (pun intended) into a place where Silvas words exist only for the purpose of inspiration. Its difficult to describe the exact point of the video, except to call it a meditation on perspective and what it means to be human.

Did you know Jason Silva, futurist, and host of National Geographics Brain Games, is speaking at the TNW Conference on June 17? Check out the full list of speakers here.

Read more:
Watching this AI-assisted art video is like tripping on acid in the Matrix - The Next Web

Memorial Day is for barbecues, reflection on the American spirit, and mattress sales. Buying a new mattress outside of Memorial Day is almost criminal, considering the deals you can typically nab, and this year is no outlier. Here are some of the cant-miss deals from some of the best brands in sleep.

Purple mattresses feature inspired design, with a layer of flexible gel that supports your frame while reducing tension and pressure. For a limited time, you can save up to $300 on different styles and sizes of mattresses, along with another $500 off the gorgeous and sturdy Ascent adjustable base.

Nectar isnt just shaving almost half the price of its queen-size mattress, its throwing in a bunch of freebies as well. Nectar is tossing in a free mattress protector, sheet set, and cooling pillow on top of the amazing discount.

How eco-friendly is your mattress? Odds are, the answer is not very, unless youre sleeping on a Nolah Natural mattress. This sustainably made mattress cools naturally year-round and provides plenty of pressure relief. For Memorial Day, you can score one of these lovely mattresses for only $1,199 (regularly $1,799)

Sleep brand Lessa understands that better sleep starts with better materials like denser foams and sturdier springs. Of course, quality comes at a premium, but in honor of Memorial Day, you can save up to $700 on original, kids, hybrid, and other mattress styles and sizes.

Get Up to 20 Percent Off Casper Mattresses

Save 29 Percent on Lucid Smart Bed Frames

Get More Than Half Off Zinus Bed Frames

If its been a decade since youve replaced your mattress or frame, nows your chance to take full advantage of these Memorial Day mattress sales. A better mattress means better sleep, which means better health. Act fast, because these offers are only available for a limited time.

To kick summer off right, check out more greatMemorial Day sales from some of your favorite brands and on home appliances from Best Buy.

This post was created by a non-news editorial team at Recurrent Media, Futurisms owner. Futurism may receive a portion of sales on products linked within this post.

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Keep Calm and Save Big During These Memorial Day Mattress Sales - Futurism