New Robots Hunt Pirates by Sea

mattnyc99 writes "PopularMechanics.com takes a peek into the growing world of high-tech piracy on the open seas, which the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard are looking to cut off by investing in a new fleet of superfast, gun-mounted unmanned surface vessels (USVs). From the article: "The Interceptor is available now. But the USV market is just getting started: Two months ago, British defense firm Qinetiq debuted its own robotic vessel, the jetski-size Sentry. Among its potential duties is intruder investigation, which could include scouting out unidentified boats, along the lines of the raft that detonated alongside the USS Cole in Yemen, as well as offering a first look at a possible pirate-controlled vessel.""

Comments

Not piracy

[loshwomp]

Remember, it's not piracy, it's "unauthorized copying". Oh, wait...

Re:Not piracy

[Hijacked Public]

Yes to the first, no to the second.

Essentially the crimes are not authorized unless you fill out the authorization forms first.

And by authorization forms I mean the documents needed to start a corporation.

Or win an election.

Thats how you get authorized.

Pirate Dread

[Anonymous Coward]

"We are the Dread Pirate Robots. There will be no survivors."

If only we had a remotely-operated wheelbarrow... That would be something!

apologies to spongebob

[shineyboy]

Who hunts down pirates on the high seas?
ROBOT GUNBOATS!
Dangerous and deadly and fatal they be!
ROBOT GUNBOATS!
If nautical mercy is something you wish,
ROBOT GUNBOATS!
Then put up your hands or sleep with the fish!
ROBOT GUNBOATS!

Autonomous boats sounds like a bad idea

[Cthefuture]

I noticed they were talking some about possibly making them autonomous. That just seems like a really bad idea. What you would have is a weapon system disconnected from command. The enemy could set up a trap for these machines, capture them and then have some high-tech stuff at their disposal. Unlike a UAV, it seems like it would be pretty easy to catch one of these surface machines using any number of methods even if they normally can protect themselves with weapon systems. If they can't protect themselves then it would be even easier to capture them.

Re:Keep it a Secret

[bombastinator]

because the main point of a deterrent is to be a deterrent. For example, while cops do have unmarked cars the vast majority are pretty gaudily painted. Police uniforms are designed to make them look larger and more imposing. The idea, at least in most cases, is not to get someone to commit the crime so you can catch him, but to deter them from attempting it in the first place.

Re:Keep it a Secret

[bombastinator]

Ironically yes.

They have done tests using examples of police uniforms and asking citizens what type of uniform made them feel most secure. They ranged from the wildly florid with knee high leather boots and helmets and epaulets and whatnot, to guys in blue blazers with all their gear hidden under the coats.

The overwhelming winner were the uniforms with as much testosterone laced leather froo-froo as could be sewn to them.

The next step in evolution

[glittalogik]

It's time. The days of zombie PCs are numbered. The future is...

Zombie robot pirates!

Do you realise just how much more awesome the world is about to become?

Re:Keep it a Secret

[Cassius Corodes]

Excellent, my stocks in testosterone laced leather froo-froos are going to go thru the roof!