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Robotic Gliders Soar Underwater

Posted by michael on from the soon-to-be-militarized dept.

zymano writes "Yahoo has this tech news on ocean gliders that can go on journeys for hundreds of miles and last for weeks using pumps that push ballast water in and out to subtly change their buoyancy. This enables them to alternately rise and fall through the ocean as they glide forward. Oh , $60,000 if you want one." See our previous stories for more information.

13 of 208 comments (clear)

  1. Dear Santa by mikesab · · Score: 5, Funny

    You know the rest.

  2. Double dupe! by wankledot · · Score: 5, Funny

    The previous post was a dupe too.

    Hot Dupe On Dupe Action!

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    My sig is blank, I typed this by hand.
  3. Re:bewm by fnj · · Score: 2, Funny

    I think you mean "and makes a faint tap on the hull" instead of "starts a war" :-)

  4. Re:Why buy this by eln · · Score: 4, Funny

    Well, that looks good and all, but unfortunately my office gift exchange this year has a strict $60,000 spending limit.

  5. For $60,000 you can get the opposite... by 192939495969798999 · · Score: 1, Funny

    A land Rover can cost you $60,000, if loaded with extras that contribue to it's "poorest MPG of practically any vehicle" rating, which I believe makes it the polar opposite of this underwater thing. Why can't they make a land version that pumps air or something?

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  6. Silly superstitious fishermen... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
    from the article:
    During the August experiments in Monterey, fishermen plucked four of the gliders from the water after the robots briefly surfaced to communicate with scientists by satellite. Three of the gilders were recovered intact; the fourth was found on shore in pieces.
    Bob: What the Hell is that, Earl?
    Earl: That's the biggest dang devil ray I ever did see!
    Bob: Well get the cudgel, they're bad luck! Damn robot devil rays...
  7. i know where to get one cheaper than 60k by theMerovingian · · Score: 5, Funny

    During the August experiments in Monterey, fishermen plucked four of the gliders from the water after the robots briefly surfaced to communicate with scientists by satellite.

    Ebay!

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    "If you think you have things under control, you're not going fast enough." --Mario Andretti
  8. Mine detector, or dolphin scab labor? by RealProgrammer · · Score: 5, Funny

    I am outraged. We've got dolphins for all of this work.

    Where is the Dolphin Workers Union on this? Sitting fat in their own Jacuzzis, that's where, taking handouts from the Man.

    Their silence condemns them for the fish-bucket whores they are.

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    sigs, as if you care.
  9. Re:Non military uses by lobsterGun · · Score: 5, Funny

    If by "widgets" you mean "cocaine", then I suspect it won't be long before your idea gets a real world try out.

  10. Re:Imagine the possibilities by mccalli · · Score: 4, Funny
    You could easily weaponize these things!

    Yeah, and you can easily verbize things as well...

    Cheers,
    Ian

  11. Uses big huge baking soda pellets.... by bodland · · Score: 3, Funny

    Fills up with bubbles then sinks....fills up with bubbles then sinks... I ordered one of those subs from Haunted Tank comic book... "Negative Jeb..."

    1. Re:Uses big huge baking soda pellets.... by lcsjk · · Score: 2, Funny

      The baking soda technology is certainly not new. I ordered mine from a cereal box coupon some 50 years ago. Gray plastic, and worked like a charm. Unlike the ones in the article, it would have lasted more than 50 years except for that old dog that liked to chew on toys.

  12. Hunter and Prey by handy_vandal · · Score: 2, Funny

    The obvious use will be delivering a nuclear (or large conventional) payload in the middle of an enemy port undetected.

    That's the obvious obvious use.

    The subtle obvious use: disguise this thing underwater bomb a manta ray, so it can turn Aquaman into shark fodder. Finally, a chance to prove what a second-rate superhero that guy really is!

    -kgj

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    -kgj