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DARPA to Raise Robot LANdroid Army

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the hey-baby-wanna-destroy-all-humans dept.

Banekartr writes "The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency plans to develop a fleet of robots that soldiers can deploy in urban combat settings as they move through houses and along streets. The program, dubbed LANdroid, envisions miniature autonomous drones that can form a network capable of relaying radio traffic in a setting often considered challenging for communications equipment. According to a notional image of a LANdroid included in a DARPA pamphlet, each robot will be about the size of a deck of cards, and must be rugged, lightweight and able to operate for seven to 14 days, the agency said. Demand for technologies to improve the military's ability to fight in urban settings has increased in recent years because many of the operations in Iraq take place in Baghdad and other Iraqi metropolitan settings. DARPA officials will provide additional information about the program during a July 6 industry day."

9 of 127 comments (clear)

  1. Please no by Hijacked+Public · · Score: 2, Funny

    Please tell me that the network layout graphics in the linked PDF were not created by an adult working for the US Government.

    Seriously, the little guy running with a rifle icon, that has to be from some grade school art contest. No one could possibly think those are functional informational graphics intended for grown ups.

    And the green clouds?

    --
    "Sacrifice for the good of The State" - The State
  2. LANdriod? by AltGrendel · · Score: 2, Funny
    Come on, you can do better than that

    And anyway, I thought that Lucas had a copyright on anything 'droid.

    --
    The simple truth is that interstellar distances will not fit into the human imagination

    - Douglas Adams

    1. Re:LANdriod? by Critical+Facilities · · Score: 2, Funny

      True. Besides, when I hear LANdroid, I think of the poor intern being blown about by cold air as he pops his head up from raised floor tiles like a meerkat while holding miles of tangled CAT5.

  3. I've got a bad feeling about this.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Look, sir: droids!

    1. Re:I've got a bad feeling about this.. by PinkyDead · · Score: 2, Funny

      These aren't the droids you're looking for.

      --
      Genesis 1:32 And God typed :wq!
  4. Must... resist... urge.... by Spy+der+Mann · · Score: 2, Funny

    These aren't the droids.... GAHHHH!

  5. I for one... by Mr.+Fahrenheit · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...welcome our new... oh god I'm so depressed.

  6. Re:urban pacification .. by Shihar · · Score: 3, Funny

    How about not spending the money on figuring out ways to destroy some gook village and instead spend it on health care. Wait untill they turn this stuff on you. Wait until they turn an army of wi-fi LAN bots on us? Oh dear god. Please, don't let them give me free wi-fi access!
  7. Re:Not very covert .... by Original+Replica · · Score: 2, Funny

    The dogs would be good against the early models , but the T-800 will slip right by.

    --
    We are all just people.