Distributed Control - Nanomachines, Subsumptive Behavior, synergy of microsensors, military Unattended Ground Sensors (UGS), Autonomous constellations, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for example.  I worked with these topics while serving  on the SecAF's 1996 SAB study on UAVs, but I haven't heard much from the civilian world.

Winter of 2002, a project came along to architect and implement an oil pipeline control center as a sole proprietor contractor.  Three other friends came onto the project, and it was a rewarding opportunity to mix  distributed control, satellite communication, network traffic optimization, operator ergometrics, and remote autonomy into a robust system spread over 42 nodes and 800 miles, capable of shipping thousands of barrels of oil each day.  Pop me an email if you're interested.