Army Eyes Anti-Sniper Robot

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Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Tuesday October 4, 2005 @12:09PM from the because-less-thinking-is-good dept.

Hiawatha writes "iRobot has teamed up with Boston University to create a robot that can spot enemy snipers on a battlefield. Before the smoke of the shot clears away, the REDOWL robot should have the shooter in its sights." iRobot is the same company that brought you the popular Roomba robotic vacuum.

13 of 434 comments (clear)

Oh, great... by gardyloo · 2005-10-04 12:13 · Score: 4, Funny

... as long as there are couches for the anti-sniper robots to go hide under when they run out of juice and get lost looking for their docking units.
1. Re:Oh, great... by superpulpsicle · 2005-10-04 12:37 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Soldier: Sir the unit took out the enemy sniper sir.
  
  Commander: Excellent!
  
  Soldier: Sir the unit also shot 2 ducks for dinner sir.
  
  Commander: Excellent!
  
  Soldier: Sir the unit also shot our spy sir.
  
  Commander: Damn. Just reload for next mission.
  
  Soldier: Nothing is left sir, the unit used all 7000 rounds on a plastic helmet with a smiley face.
Then... by op12 · 2005-10-04 12:15 · Score: 5, Funny

After shooting the sniper, the robot proceeds to vacuum the battlefield.
1. Re:Then... by sab39 · 2005-10-04 13:57 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  That joke really sucked.
Fucking w4llh4x0r1ng c4mp!ng n00bz! by Tackhead · 2005-10-04 12:17 · Score: 5, Funny

> Before the smoke of the shot clears away, the REDOWL robot should have the shooter in its sights.
Getting pwn3d by a .50cal through a wall may not qualify as wallhacking, but still... aimbots vs. campers.
War may never have been fun, but remember the good old days, when it was supposed to be? :)
1. Re:Fucking w4llh4x0r1ng c4mp!ng n00bz! by Joe+the+Lesser · 2005-10-04 12:54 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  kickvote initiated on player REDOWL. Press page up for yes, page down for no.
  
  --
  "I only speak the truth"
  Karma: null(Mostly affected by an unassigned variable)
What does the future hold? by Valarauk · 2005-10-04 12:19 · Score: 5, Funny

I told my father about this article a few minutes ago and I think his response was comment worthy.
"I think I saw that movie, the Robots won".

--
**insert favorite profound quotation here**
Someone please explain to me... by Helpadingoatemybaby · 2005-10-04 12:21 · Score: 4, Funny

How is this roomba going to fit the dead sniper in the tiny little vacuum cleaner bag?

--
The baby's fine -- please stop sending business cards.
Roomba...pff by EdwinBoyd · 2005-10-04 12:30 · Score: 5, Funny

If it's from the makers of roomba, all the sniper has to do is stand in a corner and that bot will never be able to get him.
Re: How about three? by Rei · 2005-10-04 12:40 · Score: 5, Funny

I can just imagine the way that the robot alerts the soldiers with it:

We Are The Targeting Robots
We Are Here To Protect You
The Sniper Is Detected
The Sniper Has Gone Down The Stairs

***

We Are The Targeting Robots
Grandpa Is Detected
Grandpa Is Detected At The Bottom Of The Stairs
I Am Here To Protect You
I Will Direct Fire On Top Of Grandpa

--
"'If one must live then one must die.' - oh, the truth must be funnier than this..." -- MammÃt
Some choice quotes by gardyloo · 2005-10-04 12:45 · Score: 4, Funny

[...] ground troops will find it hard to spot even at very close range.

[...] our research department is currently engaged in the testing of a 100-mile C3 for the Turtle. The thrust of this research is towards the development of an Extended-Range Turtle II. While this does result in a shorter tooth-to-tail ratio, we feel it could significantly enhance the battlefield capabilities of Turtle installations.

3. Installation Cost
The Terrapin Turtle is designed for installation at no cost by children and elementary school teachers. We feel that military installation cost should be under $10,000/unit.

4. Annual Cost of expendable supplies and spares per unit.
Ball-point Pen refills $0.59(one spare included)
In the rugged terrain of the battlefield, under rigorous load conditions, it may be necessary to occasinally replace the Turtle Tires. Due to fluctuations in the world rubber market, quotation of exact prices is not possible.

I love it.
In related news . . . by ln+-sf+head+ass · 2005-10-04 13:25 · Score: 4, Funny

. . . eBay has expressed interest in the technology for as yet unspecified applications.
Re:Two loopholes by mjkjedi · 2005-10-04 16:10 · Score: 5, Funny
Both of you are missing something:
1. Snipers are mammals.
2. Snipers fight ALL the time.
3. The purpose of the sniper is to flip out and kill people.