Slashdot Mirror
Listening Robot Senses Snipers
Dr. Eggman writes "Popular Science has a brief piece on the RedOwl, a brainy-looking flightless robot that can 'read a nametag from across a football field and identify the make and model of a rifle fired a mile away simply by analyzing the sound of the distant blast.' For a paltry $150,000, the machine utilizes robotic hearing technology originally developed by Boston University's Photonics Center to improve hearing aids to sense a shot fired and pinpoint its source, identify it as a hostile or friendly weapon, and illuminate the target with a laser visible only with night vision. The RedOwl, built on an iRobot packbot platform and controlled via a modified Xbox videogame controller, can figure out the location of a target 3,000 feet away, allowing troops to call in a precision air strike."
That video game AI snipers are cheaters!
Aimbot =(
I hear, therefor I am. Nice robot, they should put an IED sniffer on it too. Call it the Bloodhound.
"No one will really be free until nerd persecution ends."
Who the hell snipes at night?
Revised sniper procedure:
Step 1) Shoot sniper sensing robot.
Step 2) Shoot soldiers.
You're right. I wouldn't want to waste my time with this things when I could be wearing much better protective armor on the battlefield. But since the contractors need something to sell the government...
Everything sounded pretty normal until the XBox controller...that was pretty funny.
This used to be called 'Nintendo Warfare'. I'd almost say we'll change the term to 'XBox Warfare' but it won't be long before somebody mods a Wii controller to do all of this AND make the kill shot to.
- Nobody would know what RTFA meant if it didn't need to be said all the time
Too bad it's not controlled by a Wii controller. Then you could just kill the sniper with the controller and avoid the air strike altogether.
...he'll be able to call in precision chair strikes!
It's amazing how easily one can get around complex machinery with the use of a pocket knife, some lint and chewing gum if one has the knowhow...
iRobot? These guys are likely to get sued by both Will Smith _and_ Apple.
President ISES
(International Society for Elimination of Sigs)
I'd snipe some guy from 2 miles away and then they all turn and lay down fire on my exact location. Fuck that.
but what if i shoot the robot?
Do not trust this signature.
You're missing out on the key point that is alluded to in the summary.
They've finally developed a flightless robot.
Flightless! It does not fly, AT ALL. Mankind has been dreaming of this since the dawn of science fiction... robots that don't go flying all over the place. awesome.