Research Engineers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) are developing a torrent (peer-to-peer) network for car-to-car data transfers.  The transfers would be small in byte sizes but would transfer information like traffic reports, road hazards, entertainment, advertisements (of course - and I have no idea how one is suppose to pay attention to this while driving), and surveillance data among other things (by which police will be able to surf through - in other words your car will tattle on you while you are driving, nice).

The transfers would go as far as 100 to 300 metres, working off common radio frequencies (radios which are installed in most 21st century cars) or off of a new Wireless LAN standard of 5.9 GHz, destined to be called 802.11p.

[Guradian Unlimited]

The folks over at DARPA are teaming up with Research Engineers from the Oklahoma State University to create micro plasma thrusters that would power a micro UAV.  Plasma thrusters need no moving parts, making them highly efficient.  The micro engines in question would fit in the palm of your hand, quite literally, and be able to power an aircraft that would be 6 to 12 inches in length.

Of course the folks over at DARPA hope that these micro plasma engines are a small step for the technology.  Several problems need to be tackled before these things become field ready, not the least of which is the length for which these engines could be operational.

Some cool pics at the original site…

[CNET]