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Another Robotic Vehicle to Help Soldiers

Roland Piquepaille writes "There are many teams of U.S. scientists working on robots able to find improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Iraq before they can kill American soldiers. Today, let's look at an effort going on at Florida State University (FSU) to build unmanned ground vehicles that could save soldiers' lives. The researchers are creating complex algorithms to control these robots who will have to integrate many different factors such as the type of ground surface or obstacles that might block the vehicle's path. Some of these robots, which also could be used for civilian missions, are currently being tested at FSU. Read more for additional references and pictures of these robots which will have to navigate among dense obstacles."

7 of 154 comments (clear)

  1. where this is leading by Tablizer · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Hell, just crank up the bandwidth for remote-control vehicles and bots, and outsource the whole damned war. I'm already working on an Abu Graihb torture module.

    1. Re:where this is leading by jbrader · · Score: 4, Funny

      Seriously do you really think the robots would do worse than any of our current world leaders?

      --
      You are so boring that when I see you my feet go to sleep.
  2. Battlebots by MrSquirrel · · Score: 4, Funny

    Can't we just send over a bunch of people who compete in the Battlebot tournaments? Yeah, the wedge robots would need a little upgrading, but I can imagine that Nightmare (the big blade a'spinnin') would help out. In the British version of Battlebots (Robot Wars?) they're allowed to use flame weapons. Go go gadget killing machine!

    --
    A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing.
  3. Is it possible to use a targetted EMP burst? by Rifter13 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Sorry, I really don't know about EMP bursts, beyond that they fry electronics. Would it be possible to create a targetted, or shaped EMP burst, say in front of vehicles that would fry the circuits on the IEDs, and keep the IEDs from going off?

  4. Heh? How does that help? by layer3switch · · Score: 3, Interesting

    So 2 feet midget robot car driving around trying to stop IEDs with suicidial nutbag driving right into target? Better yet, how does that help everyone trying to not get blown to pieces while shopping for food or trying to go to school or trying to go from point A to point B?

    Oh wait, here is an idea. EM bomb. No ignition, No Boom.

    --
    "Don't let fools fool you. They are the clever ones."
  5. This has already been done -- better by SSHGuru · · Score: 4, Informative

    IOTN - Ionatron has already developed something called a JIN that is a remote vehicle that shoots current into the ground detonating all IED's within a certain range.

    Scott

    SSHGuru.com

  6. Re:better solution.. by Dh2000 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think you meant, "As far as creating lots of new Islamic militants and terrorists, Iraq is a pretty good strategy. Plus we get to test out all these cool new IEDs."

    Osama got exactly what he wanted: The removal of Saddam, and a ton of new recruits.