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The Wasp Micro Air Vehicle

Posted by samzenpus on from the small-pilots dept.

Victor Cheng writes "In developments that bring together a variety of technologies including robotics and digital imaging the Wasp Micro Air Vehicle is one of the Pentagon's latest tools currently in testing of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (although I'm thinking its not going to need a carrier to get this one up and flying). The 13 inch Wasp comes equipped with 2 video cameras, GPS and has a myriad of possible applications. Next time you hear something Buzzing around when you're at a family picnic you might think twice before swatting it could be an expensive action."

7 of 222 comments (clear)

  1. Swat it? by FirienFirien · · Score: 5, Funny

    Swatting a 13-inch wasp is unlikely. Scream and run away, or possibly even cower and say "I for one welcome our giant robot wasp overlords"...

    --
    Browsing with +2 to insightful posts and a higher threshold makes the average post seen seem a lot more ingenious
  2. Don't need a carrier for this? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Maybe they've made a special 4 foot long mini-nimitz to go with it? That way you could fit an entire carrier group in your garden pond. How cool would that be?

    1. Re:Don't need a carrier for this? by TapeCutter · · Score: 4, Funny

      My goldfish want to know if the mini carrier group can be programmed to attack cats.

      --
      And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.
  3. Scales a little off? by dreamquick · · Score: 5, Funny

    "next time you hear something Buzzing around when you're at a family picnic"

    If its a 13 inch wasp (just over a foot), then quite frankly if something that size starts buzzing around a family picnic I doubt it would be able to hide from you all that well, and secondly I doubt anyone would be stupid enough to attack a foot-long wasp with a rolled up newspaper or magazine.

    If horror films have taught us nothing it's that when freakishly large mutant insects attack (TM) you just run and hope you aren't the extra with no name who's destined to die in the first 20 minutes.

    *sigh* Journalists these days...

  4. Re:Grammar Nazi Strikes Again! by archeopterix · · Score: 4, Funny
    "Next time you hear something Buzzing around when you're at a family picnic you might think twice before swatting it could be an expensive action."
    Slashdot editors are above grammar is for nazis only.
  5. Micro Air Vehicle!!! by richieb · · Score: 4, Funny
    When I was a kid we used to call these things "model airplanes". :-)

    --
    ...richie - It is a good day to code.
  6. Re:Privacy by Cyn · · Score: 4, Funny

    The reasons they build UAVs in the first place is because they can't bring agents into the area, because its still too hostile. I hardly think a family picnic is so 'hostile' as to require a UAV.

    Clearly you've never been to one of my family picnics!

    --
    cyn, free software and *nix operating systems enthusiast.