DARPA may have been looking at First Person Shooter video games when they write about Requests for Proposals (RFPs) that they send out to interested companies wanting to develop or may already have something ready that is related to what DARPA wants to develop for the US Military.

Recently, tech websites such as Engadget and The Verge, reported about the RFP issued by DARPA with a deadline for submitting proposals by tomorrow, July 2, 2014.

What DARPA wants to develop is what it calls the Block Access to Deny Entry (BlockADE), a portable insta-wall that soldiers can easily carry. The BlockADE can be easily deployed to provide a temporary barricade that can delay pursuers or setup a perimeter or even an instant shelter from the elements.

(Defense.gov: A U.S. soldier in Perozi village, Panjwai district, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Dec. 4, 2013. Staff Sgt. Bertha A. Flores)

BlockADE can either deny access to the enemy or impede those who want to breach a perimeter and it can be stored in a canister which is 1-foot by 6.5 feet or smaller.  The BlockADE should be easily deployed a quick push of button especially when time is of the essence. If need be, it can be ballistic resistant, can handle a hail of bullets until it gives away, but buying enough time for the soldiers to be reinforced, retreat, or evacuated.

Reading the RFP, I can't help if the DARPA committee or individual assigned to make the RFP watched the trailer of Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare as one of the protections that the characters in the game can use is a portable bullet -proof wall. One can readily setup the wall to hide behind and fire at the enemies.

In 2:46 of the Official Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Reveal Trailer, one of the characters setups a mesh wall instantly and be able to return fire from behind. This is different from the mobile barricade also in Advanced Warfare which a story was written about it last week.

The idea is good, as DARPA wants something that can be used for various purposes, mainly protection from enemies and the elements while enabling the soldiers to consolidate to fight back or conduct delaying actions more effectively. It would be interesting to find out about the proposals submitted when DARPA will announce which group will get the go-signal to start developing the BlockAde.