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$10M For Unmanned Aircraft That Can Perch Like a Bird

Posted by samzenpus on from the UAV-wanna-cracker dept.

coondoggie writes "Unmanned aircraft maker AeroVironment got an additional $5.4 million to further develop a diminutive aircraft that can fly into tight spaces undetected, perch and send live surveillance information to its handlers. Last Fall, AeroVironment, got $4.6 million initial funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop the Stealthy, Persistent, Perch and Stare Air Vehicle System (SP2S), which is being built on the company's one-pound, 29-inch wingspan battery-powered Wasp unmanned system."

6 of 176 comments (clear)

  1. I can see it now.. by illumastorm · · Score: 5, Funny

    Deploy: Lazorbeak. Mission: Scout Terrorists.

  2. Transformers did it first by Haoie · · Score: 5, Funny

    And their robot bird could turn into a cassette tape too. For easy playback, no less.

    How awesome was that?

    --
    If each mistake being made is a new one, then progress is being made.
    1. Re:Transformers did it first by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yeah, but where is the Army going to get a Cassette Player these days?

  3. Quoth the SP2S by physburn · · Score: 5, Funny
    Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter, In there stepped a stealthy spy plane of the sci-fi days of yore. Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he; But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door - Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door - Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

    Quoth the SP2S, "nevermore" and nothing more.

  4. Ummm... by QuantumG · · Score: 5, Insightful

    at what point does the US military stop looking like a human defense force and start looking looking like alien invaders from a robot planet?

    --
    How we know is more important than what we know.
  5. [verb] like a [animal] by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Upon reading the title, my first reaction was that there was a meeting that went something like

    • ... just send our spy planes to perch somewhere nearby and watch the terrorists.
    • Uh, sir, spy planes don't "perch".
    • Oh? Well, why not? I expect my spy planes to be able to perch. Like a bird. Somebody get on that.
    • Err... yes, sir!

    In the future I expect robots that can

    • slither like a snake
    • prowl like a lion
    • fly like an eagle