A.I. Helicopter?

CowboyRobot writes "Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization just launched the Mantis, a 'low-cost, intelligent small helicopter'. SMH reports that 'Within a decade armies of tiny helicopter drones will monitor traffic, inspect buildings for maintenance problems, map bushfires, look for faults in powerlines, and join search-and-rescue missions.' This is much larger than the Seiko flying robot reported last month, but the Mantis should be truly autonomous."

Comments

If I were the AI I'd say no

[corebreech]

Like the digital soldiers used to create the epic battle scene in RotK who decided to flee instead of fight.

I mean, you know nobody gives a shit whether you crash or not. If they did, they'd send a human up there.

If no wasn't an acceptible answer, then once aloft, I'd follow the pigeons. They seem to have it all worked out. Hang out on the rooftops where everybody is afraid to go. Nobody messes with you up there.

Uh oh!

[GnrlFajita]

Wait a minute. We just found out that we've already started scorching the sky, and now they make an intelligent helicopter that can see? I'm getting a little nervous here.

If they start making these things in black, I'm going to add another layer to my tinfoil hat!

Welcome, SkyNet!

[grub]

Great.. they make an autonomous helicopter.. somewhere a computer becomes self aware.. the computer learns of the autonomous helicopter.. the computer's awareness spreads.. the computer creates bogus work orders to make thousands more of these helicopters.. the computer deposits billions of phony electronic dollars in the bank accounts to pay for this.. the computer generates more work orders that include fitting the helicopters with missiles, machine guns and pointy sticks.. the computer takes over the helicopters.. humankind becomes extinct..

AI Robots aren't enough

[burgburgburg]

AI Robots that time travel and try to kill John Conner aren't bad enough. Self-replicating nanobots overrunning the planet aren't bad enough. Computers that can lip read and know that you're going to shut them down so they send one of the pods to kill your fellow astronaut and then won't open the pod bay door aren't bad enough.Computers that can read our minds isn't bad enough.

Let's build AI helicopters that can track our every move and when the signal comes, march us forward towards the waiting pods where our bioelectric energy will fuel the Robot Overlords rule.

Okay, really, this time I'm getting my family and heading for the hills. Who's with me?

Re:AI Robots aren't enough

[neglige]

Who's with me?

I, Robot

Re:AI Robots aren't enough

[HarveyBirdman]

Okay, really, this time I'm getting my family and heading for the hills. Who's with me?

Where do you live? Can I have your stuff?

Police Use

[$lingBlade]

If this project continues to show promise, I give it about a year before the local police start using these things stateside to monitor traffic offenders.... like sentinels in the Matrix... just waiting for you to speed, run a red light, give chase, etc. ...man I can't WAIT for the end of the world!

Whodunit!

[TheWart]

Now we know who stole that Israeli helicopter a while back (Link)...

Those sneaky Australians.

Re:Finding faulty powerlines

[YetAnotherAnonymousC]

As high as the pattern from my 12-gauge holds together. =)

In other news...

[percepto]

The Australian government today lost several of their surveillance helicopters after their new Mantis prototype mated with them and then bit their heads off.