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2006-04-02 Science & Technology

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Posted by Captain America 2006-04-02 00:00|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [11137 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 10,000 massed nanno robots. Enjoy

Eerie Big Dog

I want one of these
but plz lose the voice
and these
Amazing Climbing Critter
http://www.ai.mit.edu/projects/sociable/videos.html
http://www.kawada.co.jp/global/ams/hrp_2.html
http://robots.net/article/1795.html

Posted by RD 2006-04-02 00:48|| 2006-04-02 00:48|| Front Page Top

#2 I believe that it was Nova last week that featured a DARPA-sponsored robot-vehicle race that required traversing a tricky, twisting 150-mile course through the desert. In contrast to the prior year, in which no vehicle got more than 10 miles from the starting line, 5 (I believe) vehicles completed the race this last time around.

Posted by Perfessor 2006-04-02 09:17|| 2006-04-02 09:17|| Front Page Top

#3 That's true. One note, however: this year's Challenge was a bit different from the previous year This time around, they gave GPS 'way points' to reach. The previous year the vehicles had to figure out everything about their routes themselves.

From one point of view that made the Challenge a lot easier this year. However, it fits DOD's needs since in the short run, unmanned trucks that can carry goods along a route defined by way points would be quite useful.

Posted by lotp 2006-04-02 16:36|| 2006-04-02 16:36|| Front Page Top

#4 unmanned trucks that can carry goods along a route defined by way points would be quite useful.

You mean useless, just dump a big rock in the road where there is no way to go around, and the truck's stymied.
Loot or destroy it at your lesiure.
Picture a mountain pass, or a hill cut, put a rock in the road, truck stops, drop another behind, repeat until you run out of trucks or rocks.

Posted by Redneck Jim 2006-04-02 19:51|| 2006-04-02 19:51|| Front Page Top

#5 You mean useless, just dump a big rock in the road where there is no way to go around, and the truck's stymied.

The autonomous vehicles can navigate to waypoints and *also* have collision sensors to avoid and maneuver around obstacles. Sure, it doesn't help if the pass or road is completely blocked, but that works against regular trucks too. The advantage in this case is that no humans die.

Don't forget that unmanned does not mean unarmed. Remember the tele-operated gun turrets (CROWS) we discussed awhile back? A vehicle in distress could also call for overwatching air support.

Posted by SteveS 2006-04-02 20:13|| 2006-04-02 20:13|| Front Page Top

#6 Sure, you can do that. But that doesn't mean there aren't uses for such things.

Or so a whole bunch of military planners believe. And unmanned doesn't necessarily mean unmonitored or undefended. Think UAV escorts, for instance. ;-)

Posted by lotp 2006-04-02 20:14|| 2006-04-02 20:14|| Front Page Top

#7 Oops, Steve's comment and mine overlapped.

Yes to all your points, Steve.

Posted by lotp 2006-04-02 20:15|| 2006-04-02 20:15|| Front Page Top

#8 Give it a cow catcher.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2006-04-02 20:17|| 2006-04-02 20:17|| Front Page Top

#9 Goat catcher.

Posted by jim#6">jim#6 2006-04-02 20:54|| 2006-04-02 20:54|| Front Page Top

#10 Jehadi Poker

Posted by RD 2006-04-02 23:43|| 2006-04-02 23:43|| Front Page Top

23:43 RD
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