These are kind of stream-of-consciousness, and more combat oriented but hey. Also kind of human-centric.
Super Capacitating Capacitors - Advances in metamaterials have uncovered a superconducting material that under the right conditions causes it to act as a capacitor with thousands of times the electrical capacitance per volume than traditional capacitors, but for a short period of time. Laser weaponry is able to take advantage of this to fire off incredibly powerful bursts at the cost of consuming the entire output of the [power plant] for the 1-2 seconds it takes the super capacitor to discharge.
Sper Capacitating Capacitor Shields - Super capacitors can also be utilized in energy shield technology, although in a limited capability. Due to the short durations that the super capacitors can hold a charge, its best utilized in an emergency situation in which the [unit] is facing an extreme spike of incoming fire. By consuming the entire output of the [power plant], the shields can be energized for a few seconds and withstand almost any barrage. Due to the short times involved, optimal deployment has to be timed by a computer with enough processing power and sensor input.
Carbon Nanotube Cloaking - While not a true invisibility, [armored vehicles] coated in this ulta-thin ultra-light material cease reflecting all light across a wide swath of elecromagnetic radiation. The unit becomes effectively invisible to radar and due to its non-reflective nature, effectively invisible to the visible spectrum under the cover of darkness. Its not perfect, but in the right environmental conditions, damn near close.
- Basis:
http://www.nasa.gov/topics/technology/features/super-black-material.htmlSupercavitating Bullets - These bullets were developed to mimic how the pistol shrimp hunts prey: by creating cavitation bubbles in the water. It isn't the bullet that kills you in this case, but its trail. When fired into a liquid body, these bullets effectively have increased accuracy (as close-misses will still damage the target) and damage (due to the cavitation), but drastically reduced range (standard ammunition impacts the surface and shatters, so this is actually an increase in penetrating power although shorter than through air or space). Great for shark and sub hunting.
- Actually a Thing:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SupercavitationUnderwater Firearms - Using a specially designed firing chamber and propulsion device, this weapon works just as well under water as it does on the surface. Combined with supercavitating bullets, these weapons can be outfitted on any aquatic unit for devastating firepower.
- Basis:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underwater_firearm - Thoughts: you could equip an underwater firearm machinegun turret on a submarine, giving it a short-ranged weapon against softer targets, rather than limiting it to just torpeos.
Hypersonic Speakers - Using high-frequency speakers and a specially designed acoustics enclosure this technology can create sonic weaponry. Point, shoot, ignore armor. The pitch used by the device is so high that it effectively penetrates metal, ceramic, plastic, and cloth armor without losing more than 1% of its energy. It renders the target temporarily deaf, nausious, and in intense pain. While technically a non-lethal weapon, extended exposure will rupture blood vessles and without immediate medical care, death from bloodloss or suffocation. Can't effectively be aimed underwater, as the cone of sound diffuses too widely and will effect the firer, but if fired from air into water, the sound spreads out and effects a small area.
- Basis:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_weaponMass Silencer - Utilizing ultrafast computing and continuous sensor readings, this device can render all sound mute by picking up the vibrations as they hit the device's sensors, and then inverting the wave, and re-emitting it. The waveforms cancel out perfectly, effectively rendering an area devoid of sound. While this can protect the area from sonic weaponry, it also renders voice communication impossible, as the subjects in the area could neither hear nor be heard.
- Impossible, but a villian from Batman Beyond (Shriek,
http://batman.wikia.com/wiki/Shriek) had a device that did this, and is just plausible enough to slip under someone's Suspension of Disbelief
Solar Freaking Roadways - SOLAR PANELS IN THE ROAD! This expensive technology has the power to generate power from every road constructed out of it. Extends the build time by a factor of 5 and the cost by a factor of 10. But at least it generates a small amount of electrical current during the day.
- Totally implausible, but totally Rule of Cool.
Autonomous Footsoldiers - AKA "drones." Always send drones in first, machines can be rebuilt, a life is irreplaceable.
Rigger Control Interface - This cyberware upgrade allows a remote user to "jump in" and directly control the body of the person outfitted with the upgrade. Effectively this makes meat-drones, as they can be controlled from a centralized location (either by a trained human or an AI program) without the need for training the soldier themselves. Who...needn't be willing...or human...Implanted into a bear and you get a freaking combat-capable bear for the low-low cost of $150,000.
Skill Wires - A less invasive version of the Rigger Control Interface. Rather than being controlled like a drone, it allows the implanted person to access the "muscle memory" for any skill chip slotted. This is an expensive, but quick, way of "training" footsoliders.
Genetic Engineering - We're playing God here people, but seriously, who
doesn't want dragons in their airforce?
Robotic Workforce - Increase the efficiency of the economy...by making everyone unemployed and replacing them with robots that can do their job better, faster, and cheaper. There's only one real use for these meatbags: cannon fodder. Drones are expensive!
