Invention Stories

Military Invention Day 2019

Come to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History on Saturday, May 18, to see leading-edge technologies from armed forces research, meet scientists and engineers, and try your hand at family-friendly invention challenges.

Military Invention Day 2019 banner logo; : a pixelated head in profile surrounded by icons representing a variety of medical, communications,  weaponry, materials, and other inventions, with the caption Military Invention Day 05.18.2019.

Join us for Military Invention Day 2019 on May 18!

About Military Invention Day 2019

Inventions for the Armed Forces, Innovations for Society—see, touch, and learn about technologies of the future!

On Saturday May 18, the Smithsonian, in collaboration with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), will showcase displays of today’s leading-edge military inventions at the third annual Military Invention Day. This daylong event demonstrates the crucial role of invention for the United States, explores technology transfer and entrepreneurship for military technology, and gives visitors an opportunity to interact with diverse scientists, engineers, and inventors.

Event Details

Date
Saturday, May 18

Time
10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Location
National Museum of American History
Constitution Ave. between 12th and 14th Streets NW
Directions

Tickets
Free; no tickets required 

Easy Sharing

Shortened link
https://s.si.edu/2Xidzgl

Regular link
https://invention.si.edu/military-invention-day-2019

Hashtags
#MilitaryInventionDay
#WhatWillYouInvent 

Air Force

Inventions for the Armed Forces, Innovations for Society—see, touch, and learn about technologies of the future!

Come see and interact with these displays:

  • Aerospace Analysis and Design in Virtual and Augmented Reality 
  • Aircraft Tire Changing Tool
  • High Noise Stethoscope Technology for Aeromedical Evacuation 
  • Laser Weapon Beam Control
  • Next Generation GPS Technology
  • Portable Door Locks 
A small laser is mounted on a stand, next to two sets of moveable mirrors and sensors, and a small model of a missile that is the target. Visitors to the display can manipulate the mirrors and sensors to simulate how difficult it is to keep a target fixed while in flight.

The laser weapon beam control keeps a target fixed by accounting for optical aberrations, mechanical vibration, and other fluctuations while moving. Courtesy of Air Force Research Laboratory

Army

Inventions for the Armed Forces, Innovations for Society—see, touch, and learn about technologies of the future!

Come see and interact with these displays:

  • Augmented Reality (Army Futures Command – Combat Capabilities Development Command)
  • Evolution of Night Vision
  • Human-Agent Teaming (Army Futures Command – Army Research Laboratory)
  • Imaging with PUMA Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Army Futures Command – Combat Capabilities Development Command)
  • Immersive Conquest of Darkness Experience (Army Futures Command – Combat Capabilities Development Command)
  • Innovations in Cold Region Science and Technology (Army Corps of Engineers)
  • Meet the Mosquito Wranglers: Protecting Soldiers and the Public from Malaria (Army Medical Research and Materiel Command)
  • Remote Networked Sensors and Deep Purple Drone (Army Futures Command – Chemical & Biological Center)
  • Thermal Weapon Sights & Evolution of Night Vision Technology (Army Futures Command – Combat Capabilities Development Command)
  • Unmanned Aerial System Flight Simulator (Army Futures Command – Army Research Laboratory)
  • Zeus Power Inverter (Army Futures Command – Ground Vehicle Systems Center)
A three-dimensional map of a mountainside and village in a desert climate designed to be viewed and manipulated by someone wearing the hololens system to better understand the environment.

3D terrain map viewable through the Hololens. US Army Corps of Engineers

Two pre-teens, one of whom is looking through a night vision scope, while the other is reaching for the scope.

The Army Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate showcases advanced thermal night vision gear. Courtesy of US Army

Two children and an adult look at a night vision lens while in conversation with a woman engineer from the Army Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate. A poster in the background has information about the history and current applications of night vision electronics.

The Army Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate showcases advanced thermal night vision gear. Courtesy of US Army

Coast Guard

Inventions for the Armed Forces, Innovations for Society—see, touch, and learn about technologies of the future!

Come see and interact with these displays:

  • Fixed Wing Deployable Drop Kit
  • Innovations with Cubesats
  • Maritime Object Tracker Technology
The orange search and rescue transponder is approximately an eight inch conical shape with an on / off switch on the side.

The Coast Guard Search And Rescue Transponder (SART) is part of the Fixed Wing Deployable Drop Kit and will enable more accurate tracking of people or contraband in the oceans. Courtesy of US Coast Guard

DARPA

Inventions for the Armed Forces, Innovations for Society—see, touch, and learn about technologies of the future!

Come see and interact with these displays from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA):

  • Deepfake Image Detection Media Forensics: detecting manipulated images and videos
  • Reconfigurable Wheel-Track
A Jeep-like Army vehicle drives with a rear wheel that can be configured either in a typical round shape or one that shifts in two seconds to a triangular shape that gives the vehicle traction on uneven terrain.

The reconfigurable wheel track can shift its shape even while in motion. Courtesy of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency

Department of Defense

Inventions for the Armed Forces, Innovations for Society—see, touch, and learn about technologies of the future!

Come see and interact with these displays:

DoD Defense Laboratory Office

  • Technology Transfer

Department of Energy

Inventions for the Armed Forces, Innovations for Society—see, touch, and learn about technologies of the future!

Come see and interact with these displays:

  • Micropower Impulse Radar (National Nuclear Security Administration)
  • Virtual Baffle System Suppressor (U.S. Special Operations Command)
A cut-away illustration of a noise suppressor for a gun, with sound waves being absorbed by numerous chambers, some pointing forward and some directing the waves backward. The multi stage bypass, conical blast diffuser, and virtual baffle are identified on the drawing. A projectile is coming out of the barrel of the diffuser.

The Virtual Baffle System Suppressor is a breakthrough design change from all prior weapon suppressors. Courtesy of Department of Energy

MIT Lincoln Laboratory

Inventions for the Armed Forces, Innovations for Society—see, touch, and learn about technologies of the future!

Come see and interact with these displays:

  • 3D imaging using Laser Radar
A three-dimensional scan of the city of Boston, with focused call outs showing Fenway Park, the Prudential building complex, the Hatch Shell, the center of the MIT campus, the State house from two different perspectives, and the Zakim bridge.

3D map of Boston produced by MIT Lincoln Laboratory’s Ladar System. Courtesy of MIT Lincoln Laboratory

National Museum of American History

Inventions for the Armed Forces, Innovations for Society—see, touch, and learn about technologies of the future!

Come see and interact with these displays:

  • Invent a Laser Maze
  • Military History Artifacts and Archives
  • Write a Letter to the Troops
Side view of a visitor working the laser maze activity

Laser maze in action. © Smithsonian Institution; photo by Tim Pula

Naval Research Laboratory

Inventions for the Armed Forces, Innovations for Society—see, touch, and learn about technologies of the future!

Come see and interact with these displays:

  • Energy from Seawater
  • Fiber Optic Hydrophone Technology
  • GelMan Surrogates for Armor Design and Injury Assessment
  • Lasers and Plasma Physics
  • Wrasse-inspired Agile Near-shore Deformable-fin Automaton
A rectangular swimming drone in a pool of water casts its shadow on the pool’s bottom. The drone has two sets of fins on each side and can move quickly through the water.

The Wrasse-inspired Agile Near-shore Deformable-fin Automaton (WANDA) is a breakthrough autonomous underwater vehicle that draws inspiration from fish for its propulsion. Courtesy of US Naval Research Lab

Naval Surface Warfare Center

Inventions for the Armed Forces, Innovations for Society—see, touch, and learn about technologies of the future!

Come see and interact with these displays:

  • Combat Diver Navigation Module (Naval Surface Warfare Center)
  • Diver Augmented Vision Display 
  • LED Air Warning System 
  • Nanoparticle identification
A computer-generated drawing of a diving mask with a moveable information screen that projects out in front of the right eye.

The Combat Diver Navigation Module system provides crucial information to divers in environments where it can be hard to see. Courtesy of Naval Surface Warface Center

A digital display of what a diver would see on the small screen in front of his or her right eye, including specific information on the compass heading in degrees, the time of day, the battery strength, and the depth in feet.

The Combat Diver Navigation Module system provides crucial information to divers in environments where it can be hard to see. Courtesy of Naval Surface Warface Center

USPTO

Inventions for the Armed Forces, Innovations for Society—see, touch, and learn about technologies of the future!

Come see and interact with these displays:

  • Frequency Hopping – The Way of the Wave
  • Patent and Trademark information
A display of a poster of Hedy Lamarr, information about her work, and a hands-on activity that invites people to experiment with creating their own code-switching system to make communications secure.

Hedy Lamarr was a pioneer of secure communications during World War II. Courtesy of United States Patent and Trademark Office

Stage Program

Inventions for the Armed Forces, Innovations for Society—see, touch, and learn about technologies of the future!

First Floor, West Wing, Coulter Plaza

12:00 p.m.

Welcome and Introductions

  • Arthur Daemmrich, Director, Smithsonian Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation

Opening Keynotes 

  • Laura Peter, Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office
  • Admiral John Richardson, Chief of Naval Operations, United States Navy

1:00 p.m.

Family-friendly STEM Demonstration by the Naval Surface Warfare Center’s “Science Squad”

2:00 p.m.

Quiz Show: Military Technology in Your Daily Life

  • Introduction: Current and Future Army Technology
    •  Major General Cedric T. Wins, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command
  • Participate in a live history quiz show and win prizes!
    • Command Sergeant Major Jon R. Stanley, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command
    • Miranda Summers Lowe, Curator of Armed Forces History, National Museum of American History

3:00 p.m.Technology Startup Pitches

  • Introduction:
    • Dr. Joseph Mait, Chief Scientist (retired) U.S. Army Research Laboratory
  • Hear pitches by entrepreneurs currently starting new businesses based on military technology. Learn about the leading edge of technology and get inspired. Presenters also will answer questions from the audience. Our military entrepreneur “shark tank” will feature:
    • Microsphere Material Solutions: advanced materials for underwater vehicles 
    • Digital Brain: traumatic brain injury diagnostics
    • FOAM: rapid construction of structures and vehicles

FAQ

Inventions for the Armed Forces, Innovations for Society—see, touch, and learn about technologies of the future!

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where is Military Invention Day held?

  • In 2019, this special program will be held on Saturday, May 18 at the National Museum of American History. Displays and stage programming will be in the 1stFloor, West Wing (the “Innovation Wing").

What is Military Invention Day?

  • A showcase, a celebration, and an educational program. Museum visitors interact with scientists, engineers, and other military personnel; see new technologies firsthand that will impact warfighting and civilian life in the future; and get inspired to pursue STEM careers.
  • The day features 30+ displays and hands-on activities, and talks and demonstrations on stage.

How can I participate?

  • To host a display, work with your R&D leadership, or contact Arthur Daemmrich, Director, Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, daemmricha@si.edu 

What does it cost to attend?

  • For display organizations, there is no fee to participate, but you are solely responsible for bringing your display to the museum and staffing it for the day.
  • For the public, the event is free and open to all. Come to the National Museum of American History on May 18!

Are there sponsorship opportunities?

  • Yes! Contact Arthur Daemmrich, Director, Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, daemmricha@si.edu