The idea behind the five-year initiative to develop an 'internet of battlefield things' is to have humans and technology work together in a seamless network, giving soldiers a competitive edge and keeping troops and civilians out of harm's way, officials said. First came the internet. Then the "internet of things," connecting devices from coffee makers to washing machines with the internet and each other. Now the University of Illinois is leading a five-year, $25 million initiative to develop an "internet of battlefield things." read more