Robots for No Man's Land

Roland Piquepaille writes "The Stryker is an 18-ton infantry vehicle, already deployed by the U.S. army in places such as Iraq. Right now, it has human drivers. But that will no longer be the case by 2010, when it will be driven by a robot. Today, the Stryker has a 'ladar' scanner, which emits 400,000 laser and radar beams and snaps 120 images every second. 'Its brain -- a 40-pound computer system tucked inside its body -- processes that data, and makes instant judgments on how to act and where to go.' These robots are developed by General Dynamics Robotic Systems, Inc. (GDRSI), which received $185 million last November to build between 30 and 60 automated-navigation prototypes to be used in all kinds of military vehicles. This overview contains more details, references and photographs."

Comments

Stryker?

[wally mean monkey]

Where have I heard that name before? Stryker, Stryker, Stryker...

Re:Stryker?

[ad0gg]

Billy, do you like movies about gladiators?

Autonomic tank

[VAXcat]

Bolo Mk, I, "Horrendous".

Yes, but will it fit on a frickin' shark?

[Tackhead]

> the Stryker has a 'ladar' scanner, which emits 400,000 laser and radar beams and snaps 120 images every second.

Yes, but will it fit on a frickin' shark? Is that too much to ask?

Battletech : 2010

[ackthpt]

How long before it's got an autocannon 10, PPC or Gause Rifle?

Obligatory quote

[senatorpjt]

The wars of the future will not be fought on the battlefield or at sea. They will be fought in space, or possibly on top of a very tall mountain. In either case, most of the actual fighting will be done by small robots. And as you go forth today remember always your duty is clear: To build and maintain those robots. Thank you.

40-pound computer system

[jeffmock]

"Its brain -- a 40-pound computer system tucked inside its body --"

You know it's got to be powerful when compute power is measured in pounds...

jeff

Re:40-pound computer system

[Space cowboy]

"You know it's got to be powerful when compute power is measured in pounds.."

I don't know, being from the UK, I've always measured computer power in pounds (sterling :-)

Simon

Re:40-pound computer system

[Guppy06]

" a 40-pound computer system tucked inside its body --"

You know it's got to be powerful when compute power is measured in pounds... "

No, that's mil-speak for "chimpanzee with a joystick locked inside of a box."

Mimicking human behavior?

[ParadoxicalPostulate]

In the future, Stryker will learn more tactical behaviors mimicking a human's, like running and hiding in trees or behind hills in the presence of enemies.

I wonder, will they teach it to wet its circuits as well?

Re:Mimicking human behavior?

[happyfrogcow]

You miss the point though. They want it to run and hide behind trees!!?? What kind of sissy, daffodil of a robot is this?! I want my robots to eat trees and then eat the target it was set to destroy.

hide behind trees... might as well stick a daisy in it's hair and give it a bong!

trees. humph.

Re:Mimicking human behavior?

[andih8u]

You'd think the enemy could spot an 18 ton vehicle trying to hide behind a tree.

Obligatory Comment...

[Anonymous Coward]

I for one welcome our new robotic warlords!!!

Re:Save the hubble...

[goatasaur]

Compare the popularity of the show "BattleBots" with, say, "Boring Robots that Fix Boring Stuff".

I think my point is made.

Geek Humor

[painandgreed]

Humorous geeky reference for the not so geeky:
"...it became self aware on August 29th 1997 2:14 am Eastern Time."

Humorous geeky reference for the really geeky:
Horray, we've developed an Ogre Mk. I!

Three snaps and a beep.

[Anonymous Coward]

You have failed to view this website.

Rectify this immediately.

For the last time, people...

[Anonymous Coward]

We prefer the term 'Electronic-American', thank you.

Re:Does war become cheap?

[iNetRunner]

Since these robots get puzzled by a parking sign and get stuck in a loop, maybe that SkyNet issue isn't upon us..

Lowest bidder

[Imperator]

Oh, so the Pentagon is now doing the whole "bidding for contracts" thing?

big deal

[lonb]

"...the Stryker has a 'ladar' scanner, which emits 400,000 laser and radar beams and snaps 120 images every second"

Big deal! The taxi driver I had today is a ladies scanner.. He checks out up to 120 girls per second while driving, plus he talks on the cell phone, listens to some foreign music, and navigates the mean streets of NYC -- all while avoiding the I.N.S.

latent homosexuality

[bomb_number_20]

This new vehicle was obviously named after famed gay porn star Jeff Stryker.

It's sort of fitting, really. A large metal penis pointing out the front, looking to fire and deliver it's seed directly up the ass of every foreign male it sees.

Once again, the U.S. military has proven itself to be chock full of latent homosexuality.