Master Control for Unmanned Systems

The Office of Naval Research has developed the equivalent of a master remote control for all military ground, air and undersea unmanned systems, as outlined in a new video.

The Common Control System, comprised of many different common control services, is software that can be added to any unmanned system to allow it to communicate and work with any other. It will run on all types of platform or hardware and can overlay existing systems running on propriety software.

Navy helicopter squadron with manned, unmanned aircraft established in NAS North Island ceremony

Fire Scout MQ-8 B looks, flies like manned copter

The first Navy helicopter squadron to include manned and unmanned aircraft will be established during a ceremony Wednesday at NAS North Island.

Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 35, the "Magicians," will be outfitted with what the Navy calls its most technologically advanced helicopter, the Sikorsky Multi Mission MH60-R.

It will also have the Fire Scout MQ-8 B, a drone that looks and flies like a regular helicopter. The Fire Scout was only recently added to the fleet, according to the Navy.

The Navy says the unmanned chopper can be operated from up to 110 miles away.

The squadron will deploy on the new littoral combat ships -- fast, highly maneuverable vessels designed for fighting in coastal waters.

The Navy is scheduled to hold a ceremony for the new squadron at 10 a.m. on base, with remarks from Vice Adm. David Buss, the commander of Naval Air Forces.

Watch Northrop Grumman video of the Fire Scout's ship testing:

North Korea embraces 3G service

North Koreans cannot access the internet via 3G on
their phones

Almost two million North Koreans now use the country's only 3G network, reports a blog dedicated to technology news in North Korea.

The figure has been confirmed by 3G provider Koryolink, a partnership between Egyptian telecoms firm Orascom and the North Korean government.

The service can only be used to make voice calls, and all international calls are banned.

At the start of 2012 Koryolink claimed to have one million 3G subscribers.

In January 2013 the government began allowing visitors to the country to bring in their mobile phones for the first time.

Unlike residents, they would now be able to use the 3G network for mobile internet access as well, by purchasing local SIM cards, the country said at the time.

However last month a China-based tour operator called Koryo Tours, which specialises in tourist visits to North Korea, posted a note on its website saying that 3G was no longer available for visitors.

North Koreans only have access to a very limited, state-run set of internet pages.

When Google Chair Eric Schmidt visited the country at the start of the year he urged the government to allow citizens access to the wider internet and said it would be "easy" for the 3G network to include data access.

"As the world becomes increasingly connected, the North Korean decision to be virtually isolated is very much going to affect their physical world and their economic growth," he wrote in a blog post.