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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.

8 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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  3. Non military uses by Gothmolly · · Score: 5, Interesting

    How about free, albeit slow, cargo delivery? Get a tug to tow containers/gliders to a 'safe' distance from the traffic surrounding a port, point the glider at its destination, set its GPS coordinates, and let it go. 3 months later, your boxes of widgets arrive at their destination, where another tug picks up the stuff at the other end.

    No fuel
    No staff
    24x7 operation
    weather independent

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    1. 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.

    2. Re:Non military uses by PPGMD · · Score: 5, Interesting
      Personally I highly doubt that it will work because during the Cold War the US deployed a series of Sonar nets through out the oceans to detect Soviet submarines.

      They are called the Sound Surveillance System (SOUS), word was that it could detect Soviet subs leaving their North Sea bases from the US.
      You can find more information here:
      http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/systems/sosus .htm

  4. 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...
  5. 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
  6. 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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