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Robots for Air Force Protection

Posted by michael on from the lazy-flyboys dept.

Roland Piquepaille writes "During a demonstration held in San Antonio on August 6, twelve robots intended to protect bases and people were shown to Air Force security directors and to 230 other security professionals. In "Robots display force-protection prowess," Air Force Link tells us the story. "Demonstrations included one robot that crawled up walls and across ceilings, another that clambered over rocks with six rotating legs and a third that wriggled like a snake through a pipe." This summary contains more details, including photos of the "Wall Crawler" climbing a wall and of Hexapod, a robot with six rotating legs walking over a pile of rocks."

23 of 251 comments (clear)

  1. Military Robots by umrgregg · · Score: 3, Funny

    These new gadgets are all well and good, just don't let them be outside during a thunder storm.

    --
    NMG
    1. Re:Military Robots by IFF123 · · Score: 5, Funny

      and don't mod their OS with counterstrike.
      (I can see it now: a six-legged robot jumping up and down and screaming FRAG MODE ACTIVATED!!!)

      --
      Who took my tinfoil hat?
    2. Re:Military Robots by ddimas · · Score: 3, Funny

      Aren't their model numbers T-1 and T-2?

  2. A small victory by BMonger · · Score: 3, Funny

    Now we just need to get the rabbit/human hybrid to be for Air Force Protection. Then the aliens will have to give in!

  3. JOHNNY FIVE by n1ywb · · Score: 3, Funny

    So when do the bolts of lightning cause the robots to become adorible artificially intelligent friendly meddling do gooders?

    --
    -73, de n1ywb
    www.n1ywb.com
    1. Re:JOHNNY FIVE by G-funk · · Score: 3, Funny

      NO! GET OUT!

      This just in... The film "short circuit" does not show scientific reality.

      In other news, scientists believe that killer time-travelling machines probably could not run on 6502 processors running command-line enhancement software typed in from an old copy of "Nibble".

      --
      Send lawyers, guns, and money!
  4. I had one of those cieling crawling robots... by raehl · · Score: 4, Funny

    But I had to get rid of it, kept shitting on guests.

    --
    paintball
  5. Bah, '80s technology! by RobertB-DC · · Score: 4, Funny

    I saw a documentary on this subject back in the '80s. As I recall, the all-terrain robots were quite impressive, but subject to major, non-reversable programming glitches when subjected to large electro-magnetic fields (such as lightning strikes).

    --
    Stressed? Me? Of course not. Stress is what a rubber band feels before it breaks, silly.
  6. Be careful around robots, friends. by TrollBridge · · Score: 4, Funny
    Ever since I saw this commercial during an episode of Saturday Night Live, I've been skeptical, to say to least, of their supposedly benevolent intentions.

    Watch your backs, folks!

    --
    There's a Mercedes gap too. I want one and can't afford one, but it's not government's job to do anything about it.
  7. Obligatory reference by dcypher_67 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Operator: Main screen turn on.
    Captain: It's You!!
    Cats: How are you gentlemen!!
    Cats: All your base are belong to us.
    Cats: You are on the way to destruction.
    Captain: You'll have to get through my team of Aibos first!!!

  8. *insert T2 music here* by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    On August 6th, 2003 at Lackland AFB, SkyNet became self aware.

    On October 7th, 2003 they elected a Terminator to lead them.

    October 8th, 2003. Judgement day.

    1. Re:*insert T2 music here* by trompete · · Score: 3, Funny

      October 9th, 2003, John Connor scores with his future wife in the bunker, which was his plan all along.

      --
      More than enough BS
  9. our duty is clear: by Requiem · · Score: 4, Funny

    We must build and maintain those robots.

  10. Wow, 10 posts and nobody's said it... by yotto · · Score: 5, Funny

    I for one welcome our new robot masters.

    --
    Pulp Audio Weekly - Geek News and Reviews
  11. Nothing bad could possibly happen by jbfaninmo · · Score: 4, Funny

    Robots to defend our military bases, what could possibly go wrong...

    1. Re:Nothing bad could possibly happen by mkldev · · Score: 3, Funny
      I can see the scientist talking next to the disabeld body of the robot sheriff now. Something like:

      "Their guns are designed to sense the heat from your body and refuse to fire. That way, they'll never accidentally kill a tourist."

      "Nothing can possibly go wrong. Nothing can possibly go wrong... go wrong... go wrong.... go wro... go... go... go... go wrong...."

      --
      120 character sigs suck. Make it 250.
  12. Ben! by mao+che+minh · · Score: 4, Funny
    As long as the Indian guy, Ben, is on the project, I like it.

    Ben Jabituya: I am standing here beside myself.

  13. if you break one of them open... by focitrixilous+P · · Score: 5, Funny

    So, if someone were to fight one of the robots and break it, would it be a DMCA violation as well as a terrorist act?

    --
    SAILING MISHAP
  14. Re:And as always.. by CowsAnonymous · · Score: 5, Funny
    > .. what happens when the bad guys get hold of one?

    I don't think SCO is in the market for robotics...

    --
    CowsAnonymous: We're here to help moo.
  15. Remember: Out of control evil robots ... by burgburgburg · · Score: 4, Funny

    don't kill people, ...oh wait. They do.
    Never mind.

  16. Future war scenario (act III, scene 4) by heironymouscoward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Sarge: Soldier, we've gotten orders to attack. Prepare battlefleet 5 and get ready to strike on my signal.
    Soldier: Sarge, we gotta problem...
    Sarge: "Problem", soldier? Whatd'ya mean "we gotta problem"?
    Soldier: the bots, Sarge. They're all upgrading. Gonna take at least an hour, then we have to test them all again. Last virus was a bitch, they were all singing "My Way" a capella together...
    Sarge: yeah, I heard. Those slimy bastards... it was terrible...
    Soldier: anyhow, this new patch is gonna block all those music viruses.
    Sarge: OK, do what you have to. But what about the enemy?
    Soldier: Oh, no problem. We hit them with TZ/21, it's the virus that makes their 'bots quote random Nietsche, with Bob Hope delivery...
    Sarge: poor bastards... poor bastards...
    Soldier: yeah, war sucks. So, game of Doom/6?
    Sarge: yeah, why not... (don VR helmets, zapping noises)

    --
    Ceci n'est pas une signature
  17. Just remember... by BigGar' · · Score: 4, Funny

    DO NOT point a gun at them when demonstrating their effectiveness to a large group of senior executives.

    --


    Shop smart, Shop S-Mart.
  18. Number 5 is alive! by FunWithHeadlines · · Score: 3, Funny
    I can't belive no one else noticed this obligatory 80s reference: A demonstration before military personnel of robots designed to show off their superior security ability? Whoa, dude, I'm back in the 80s!:

    Military guy: Will he kill me if I stop?
    Ben: Who is to say?
    Military guy: Will he kill me if I don't stop?
    Ben: Again I am shrugging.

    Number 5: Many fragments. Some large, some small.