Robots Guarding US Nuclear Stockpiles In Nevada

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Robots Guarding US Nuclear Stockpiles In Nevada

Posted by CmdrTaco on Tuesday October 12, 2010 @05:23AM from the no-disassemble-johnny-five dept.

kkleiner writes "The US National Nuclear Security Administration recently announced that it has started using autonomous robot vehicles to patrol the vast desert surrounding its Nevada National Security Site (NNSS). The 1360+ square miles of territory is home to millions of tons of low grade nuclear waste, as well as Cold War Era nuclear weapons, and cutting edge nuclear testing research. Guarding those precious nuclear materials is the Mobile Detection Assessment Response System (MDARS) robot, which is essentially a camera on a mini-Hummer. The MDARS can roam and scout the desert on its own, alerting a remote operator when it encounters something that shouldn't be there."

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What could possibly go wrong? by jamesdood · 2010-10-12 05:28 · Score: 3, Funny

I mean they are robots, guarding nuclear weapons....

--
*narf!*
1. Re:What could possibly go wrong? by Iamthecheese · 2010-10-12 05:33 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  I'm more worried about operators trusting hackable equipment to give them good data. What is it using? thermal? movement? shapes? colors? Whatever it is a robot's ability to "see" as in detect patterns in what it's looking at is far, far less advanced than what the human brain can detect. I dearly hope these cameras are being monitored on a 1 person/1 camera basis.
  
  --
  If video games influenced behavior the Pac Man generation would be eating pills and running away from their problems.
2. Re:What could possibly go wrong? by WrongSizeGlass · 2010-10-12 05:35 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  I mean they are robots, guarding nuclear weapons....
  Robots who are angry that 'MDARS' is the best acronym that the brain trust could come up with.
3. Re:What could possibly go wrong? by stanlyb · 2010-10-12 05:38 · Score: 1
  
  What's next, terminators????
4. Re:What could possibly go wrong? by gmuslera · 2010-10-12 05:39 · Score: 1
  
  Things are not so bad yet. But add humans, and you have the perfect recipe for a disaster.
5. Re:What could possibly go wrong? by Stargoat · 2010-10-12 05:45 · Score: 1
  
  No no. MDARS is a great name. If you were to give it something cool like SKYNET or CYLON, we would all be boned.
  
  --
  Hoist Number One and Number Six.
6. Re:What could possibly go wrong? by Lord+Ender · 2010-10-12 05:52 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  I hope they have an infinite budget, too. But they don't, so it's good that they're using technology to make the most of what they have.
  
  --
  A slashdotter who didn't build his own computer is like a Jedi who didn't build his own lightsaber.
7. Re:What could possibly go wrong? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-12 05:54 · Score: 0
  
  See, it's alarmist scare-tactics headlines like this, coupled with whatcouldpossiblygowrong tags that prevent us from adopting battle mechs and robot droids as the future of hardware, and possibly a religion. Cue the overlords comments. How will I ever get my smexy nurse-droid to take care of me in my advancing years?
8. Re:What could possibly go wrong? by batquux · 2010-10-12 06:01 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  How about... Mobile Unmanned Robotic Detection Assessment Response System (MURDARS)?
9. Re:What could possibly go wrong? by Lumpy · 2010-10-12 06:21 · Score: 1
  
  "all your base belong to us...... beep....."
  Honestly, that would be funny as hell if that was what was played on the units as they patrolled...
  
  --
  Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
10. Re:What could possibly go wrong? by Hoi+Polloi · 2010-10-12 06:21 · Score: 1
  
  Guards that scream "Exterminate!"?
  
  --
  It is by the juice of the coffee bean that thoughts acquire speed, the teeth acquire stains. The stains become a warning
11. Re:What could possibly go wrong? by elrous0 · 2010-10-12 06:27 · Score: 1
  
  I don't know about that. But I *do* know where I'm going to steal me some awesome robots!
  
  --
  SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
12. Re:What could possibly go wrong? by mcgrew · 2010-10-12 06:29 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Don't anthromorphise robots. Robots HATE being anthromorphised.
  
  --
  Free Martian Whores!
13. Re:What could possibly go wrong? by WrongSizeGlass · 2010-10-12 06:47 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  What could possibly go wrong?
  An MDARS robot, parked in the middle of a vast desert, dreams of becoming a Google Driverless Car one day. "I know I checked the 'do no evil' box on my application form. I wonder what happened? Stupid computers should never be trusted to handle something as complex as paying attention to details on a job application ..."
14. Re:What could possibly go wrong? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-12 07:18 · Score: 0
  
  I see Skynet written all over this!
15. Re:What could possibly go wrong? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-12 07:33 · Score: 0
  
  I can think of a couple of cylons who I wouldn't mind boning...
16. Re:What could possibly go wrong? by elrous0 · 2010-10-12 07:45 · Score: 1
  
  On second thought, I just watched Terminator 3. I've changed my mind.
  
  --
  SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
17. Re:What could possibly go wrong? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-12 11:38 · Score: 0
  
  Guards that scream "Exterminate!"?
  You will provide us with the location of the TARDIS. You will provide us with the location of the TARDIS right now. If you do not provide us with the location of the TARDIS, you will be ex-ter-mi-nated, and Earth will die screaming!!!
18. Re:What could possibly go wrong? by RespekMyAthorati · 2010-10-12 18:13 · Score: 1
  
  I find it very hard to believe that a multi-million dollar robot is cheaper to run than a soldier on a motorcycle.
19. Re:What could possibly go wrong? by Lord+Ender · 2010-10-13 04:52 · Score: 1
  
  I find it hard to believe that you think a single robot and a single soldier are substitutive items.
  
  --
  A slashdotter who didn't build his own computer is like a Jedi who didn't build his own lightsaber.
20. Re:What could possibly go wrong? by Flowstone · 2010-10-13 07:34 · Score: 1
  
  Exactly! imagine your that soldier tasked with patrolling a desert; do you have any idea how mundane that would be? i would much rather have a robot do the dirtywork of waiting in borderline limbo (no pun intended) and bring something to my attention when its worth paying attention to.
Obligatory by Yvan256 · 2010-10-12 05:29 · Score: 0, Offtopic

I, for one, welcome our new gas-guzzling overlords!
1. Re:Obligatory by Howitzer86 · 2010-10-12 05:32 · Score: 1
  
  They're Bender prototypes.
2. Re:Obligatory by rwven · 2010-10-12 05:33 · Score: 1
  
  Grrr! You have just stolen many-a-geek's thunder, my friend.
nuke? by bhcompy · 2010-10-12 05:29 · Score: 0, Redundant

So you've got a robot guarding Nuke. Sounds familiar....
1. Re:nuke? by Talderas · 2010-10-12 05:44 · Score: 1
  
  That's a very impressive nuke. That seems a bit outside of it's standard operation. I'm not sure why the robot needs guarding.
  
  --
  "Lack of speed can be overcome. In the worst case by patience." --Znork
2. Re:nuke? by bhcompy · 2010-10-12 05:56 · Score: 1
  
  Robocop 2 isn't redundant.
Automated robots by BadAnalogyGuy · 2010-10-12 05:31 · Score: 2, Interesting

Tedious, dangerous, time-consuming tasks should be done by robots.
I'm still sad my Roomba doesn't empty, clean, and charge itself. I suppose it could, but that would probably be the last step before self awareness, and we all know how that will go.
1. Re:Automated robots by Yvan256 · 2010-10-12 05:34 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  Doesn't the Roomba automatically go back to its charging station after it's done cleaning?
  The only thing missing, AFAIK, it's the "empty itself" part. I'm puzzled over that one because they could simply add a "garbage can" part to the charging station...
2. Re:Automated robots by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-12 05:37 · Score: 0
  
  Source of dirt discovered: TERMINATION IN PROGRESS
3. Re:Automated robots by MrEricSir · 2010-10-12 05:40 · Score: 1
  
  If the Roomba could empty itself and clean its brush off, I would gladly pay twice as much for one.
  
  --
  There's no -1 for "I don't get it."
4. Re:Automated robots by Un+pobre+guey · 2010-10-12 05:44 · Score: 1
  
  It would add to the cost of the Roomba. We have one and we're happy with it, aside from having to clean it out frequently by hand. Nevertheless, it cost over $300, and that was already a little more than we wanted to spend. Paying another $100-200 for self-cleaning would have kept us from buying it.
  
  If you have carpeted floors, I definitely recommend it. It's pretty thorough. You'll be shocked at first at the amount of crap it will pull out.
5. Re:Automated robots by nospam007 · 2010-10-12 05:50 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  The Kärcher Robot Cleaner has a loading station that sucks the dirt out of the robot, but it's more than double the price.
  http://www.robot-magic.co.uk/acatalog/KarcherRobocleaner.html
6. Re:Automated robots by Iphtashu+Fitz · 2010-10-12 05:53 · Score: 1
  
  that would probably be the last step before self awareness, and we all know how that will go.
  Why is it that I just got an image from the second Transformers stuck in my head where that stupid little robot starts dry humping Megan Fox's leg like a dog?
7. Re:Automated robots by Un+pobre+guey · 2010-10-12 05:59 · Score: 1
  
  Luckily, Roombas do not have legs.
8. Re:Automated robots by NevarMore · 2010-10-12 06:03 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  The Kärcher Robot Cleaner has a loading station that sucks the dirt out of the robot, but it's more than double the price.
  Umlauts are an expensive upgrade. I bet the Röömbä would be like eight times as expensive.
9. Re:Automated robots by smellsofbikes · 2010-10-12 06:08 · Score: 1
  
  Doesn't the Roomba automatically go back to its charging station after it's done cleaning?
  The only thing missing, AFAIK, it's the "empty itself" part. I'm puzzled over that one because they could simply add a "garbage can" part to the charging station...
  It depends on the level of roomba -- both my roomba and my scooba have standard wall-wart chargers that I have to plug in by hand. But really that isn't the limiting factor: the brushes get stuff in them, particularly hair, and that more than anything else is the most difficult maintenance task.
  They also have a paper filter in front of the main debris container, that has to be manually removed; automating that into a 'garbage can' sort of setup, would be tricky. Old-fashioned vacuums used a disposable paper bag to handle both tasks, dust removal and debris, but thankfully the roomba doesn't work that way or we'd be bankrupt since we run ours pretty much every day in one room or another. That's one of the good design decisions they made, in my opinion: a bit more work but a *lot* less of an ongoing money-sink, and since you have to clean the brush anyway, which requires opening the debris container, you wouldn't save any time by having a bag-type debris collector.
  
  --
  Nostalgia's not what it used to be.
10. Re:Automated robots by Un+pobre+guey · 2010-10-12 06:39 · Score: 1
  
  You're not married, are you?
11. Re:Automated robots by Shompol · 2010-10-12 07:05 · Score: 1
  
  So... who sucks the dirt out of loading station?
12. Re:Automated robots by zmollusc · 2010-10-12 07:20 · Score: 1
  
  A bigger robot. Duh!
  
  --
  They whose government reduces their essential liberties for temporary security, receive neither liberty nor security.
13. Re:Automated robots by badboy_tw2002 · 2010-10-12 07:28 · Score: 1
  
  Of course not, why would he need a roomba then?
14. Re:Automated robots by corbettw · 2010-10-12 07:30 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Tedious, dangerous, time-consuming tasks should be done by robots.
  My wife says the same thing. But I keep telling her, steel and ceramic vaginas just don't do it for me.
  
  --
  God invented whiskey so the Irish would not rule the world.
15. Re:Automated robots by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-12 08:15 · Score: 0
  
  In theory yes, in reality (at least with the model that was out 2 yeas ago) they often don't line up with the charging base right, or run out of battery power heading back to the base if used in a large room.
16. Re:Automated robots by MrEricSir · 2010-10-12 08:56 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  It's turtles all the way down!
  
  --
  There's no -1 for "I don't get it."
17. Re:Automated robots by Arthur+Grumbine · 2010-10-12 10:11 · Score: 1
  
  So... who sucks the dirt out of loading station?
  The gorillas - but you have to buy more every year because they freeze to death in the winter.
  
  --
  Now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure everything I just said is completely wrong.
18. Re:Automated robots by Vectormatic · 2010-10-13 02:58 · Score: 1
  
  Thank you!
  i just checked again what a roomba costs, and i can get one for 300 bucks, that is gonna be awesome in the new house, i can have my very own robot underling vacuming the wooden floor in the living room/kitchen!
  
  --
  People, what a bunch of bastards
19. Re:Automated robots by Vectormatic · 2010-10-13 02:59 · Score: 1
  
  oh boy, judging from your comment you would describe yourself as a roomba owner right?
  
  --
  People, what a bunch of bastards
20. Re:Automated robots by DarthVain · 2010-10-13 03:45 · Score: 1
  
  You had me till I heard "time-consuming", now I know your lying... :)
21. Re:Automated robots by badboy_tw2002 · 2010-10-13 05:56 · Score: 1
  
  Nah, I just employ illegals. Cheaper.
22. Re:Automated robots by Flowstone · 2010-10-13 07:40 · Score: 1
  
  and far more thorough, and paranoid. not to mention extremely programmable.
Things that shouldn't be there by Tanks*Guns · 2010-10-12 05:32 · Score: 5, Funny

"...alerting a remote operator when it encounters something that shouldn't be there."

People
Large Animals
Vehicles
John Connor
Other Robots
1. Re:Things that shouldn't be there by sjs132 · 2010-10-12 06:11 · Score: 1
  
  If I worked on this project and wrote code for it, I'd put lots of John Connor / Terminator comments in the code documentation. It would be so much fun for future coders that try and fix a bug and have to read those comments.
  
  --
  --- Relax, that mass muderer is just trying to reduce our carbon footprint, one fetus at a time...
2. Re:Things that shouldn't be there by ajlitt · 2010-10-12 06:50 · Score: 1
  
  OCP Executive
3. Re:Things that shouldn't be there by Sulphur · 2010-10-12 06:54 · Score: 1
  
  You can use this stuff if you want to.
  We suggest that you write your own.
  In our opinion, it has achieved true user hostility.
OCP found a secondary market by Drakkenmensch · 2010-10-12 05:35 · Score: 1

Please write down your post. You have 20 seconds to comply.
Must have missed them by 0123456 · 2010-10-12 05:35 · Score: 4, Interesting

I was on a tour of the Nevada test site a few months back and didn't see any robots running around, I guess they weren't operating at that point. It's a pretty interesting place to see if you ever get the chance, and so big that I can understand why they want robots patrolling 24/7.
And the tour guide claimed that years ago a visitor was accidentally left behind in a portapotty near one of the craters, so at least if it happens again they'll be able to flag down a passing robot. Assuming it doesn't go all Terminator on their ass.
1. Re:Must have missed them by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-12 06:41 · Score: 0
  
  Oh, you saw them alright, you just didn't realize that you saw them. They look like Peterbilts, and Camaros, and Mustangs, and helicopters, and sloths, and orangutans. Plus, many of them are indistinguishable from people. Heck, the mimetic poly-alloy type may have even looked like a checkered floor in the hospital.
2. Re:Must have missed them by jluzwick · 2010-10-12 06:46 · Score: 1
  
  "Must have missed it "
  The article states they have only recently deployed one with two more to be deployed in the coming months. This is probably why you didn't see it.
3. Re:Must have missed them by Wraithlyn · 2010-10-12 06:49 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Of course you didn't seem them... they're ninja robots.
  
  --
  "Mind, as manifested by the capacity to make choices, is to some extent present in every electron." -Freeman Dyson
4. Re:Must have missed them by 0123456 · 2010-10-12 07:52 · Score: 1
  
  The article states they have only recently deployed one with two more to be deployed in the coming months. This is probably why you didn't see it.
  I still think I prefer the ninja robot option :).
5. Re:Must have missed them by demonbug · 2010-10-12 08:16 · Score: 1
  
  So.... do they deliver pizza?
6. Re:Must have missed them by jtownatpunk.net · 2010-10-12 08:21 · Score: 1
  
  I think they tell that porta-potty story to every group. I went on a tour a while back and we went inside the Ice Cap tower. It was a bit spooky. The whole rig's just been hanging there since 1993 (minus the warhead, of course). I couldn't resist giving the rig a slight shove to make it swing.
  Now I want to go again and see if I can spot one of the surveillance units. I imagine they'd be cruising around the perimeter of the waste disposal area.
7. Re:Must have missed them by GrumblyStuff · 2010-10-12 22:02 · Score: 1
  
  That means their natural enemy would be... vampire pirates?
Good use of the technology by John3 · 2010-10-12 05:38 · Score: 5, Insightful

This seems like an excellent use of robotic patrol vehicles. Driving around on patrol in that desert is a tedious assignment and the chance that someone might actually show up out there to steal old nuclear waste is pretty low. If the robotic vehicle detects anything unusual there is plenty of time to get people (or the next generation of vehicular robot?) out to the site to investigate further and/or stop the perps.

--
"We make our world significant by the courage of our questions and by the depth of our answers." Carl Sagan
1. Re:Good use of the technology by swb · 2010-10-12 06:58 · Score: 1
  
  But this is probably meant to reduce manpower overall, so it's conceivable that several of these could be tricked into false positive detection, resulting in the remaining humans being forced to go on a wild goose chase and leaving the site more vulnerable.
2. Re:Good use of the technology by blackraven14250 · 2010-10-12 07:24 · Score: 1
  
  Not really. You'd send out units from a secondary site relatively nearby (like a nearby military base), not from the main site.
3. Re:Good use of the technology by John3 · 2010-10-12 08:06 · Score: 1
  
  I assume that the initial detection would be susceptible to "false positive" but once a human operator takes over the video camera and sensors they would be able to accurately evaluate whatever the robot detected. At that point, they could dispatch personnel, or maybe even send in a drone to do a flyover.
  
  --
  "We make our world significant by the courage of our questions and by the depth of our answers." Carl Sagan
What happens north of New Vegas... by Tackhead · 2010-10-12 05:40 · Score: 5, Interesting

What happens north of New Vegas... stays north of New Vegas.
(When I first saw a picture of the thing, I thought it was an asset from Fallout:New Vegas. It's a Robobrain come to life... awesome! :)
These things could actually have civilian applications. Scatter a bunch over Death Valley or other remote areas, and partner 'em with a high-altitude drone overlooking the area for stranded motorists or backcountry hikers, and send an autonomous mount with a few gallons of water after 'em after a few hours of immobility. It'll have pretty decent odds of getting there in time to help, and the remote operator can then talk with the hiker/motorist to determine what sort of human intervention (if any) is necessary.
1. Re:What happens north of New Vegas... by Un+pobre+guey · 2010-10-12 05:48 · Score: 1
  
  That's actually a cool idea. The "autonomous mount" could be a BigDog.
2. Re:What happens north of New Vegas... by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-12 05:55 · Score: 0
  
  If I was lost in the desert, I'd probably have a heart attack if I saw a BigDog chasing me.
3. Re:What happens north of New Vegas... by Un+pobre+guey · 2010-10-12 06:02 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Not if it had water bottles strapped to its side. If it had a loudspeaker that blared out "We mean you no harm! We are here to help! Please come out and show yourself!" or something to that effect, it would probably make it even scarier.
4. Re:What happens north of New Vegas... by Lumpy · 2010-10-12 06:22 · Score: 1
  
  a small missle or grenade launcher with a bottle of water in it...
  What? a standard bottle of water in the chest at 300 miles an hour wont hurt too bad.
  
  --
  Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
5. Re:What happens north of New Vegas... by blackanvil · 2010-10-12 08:21 · Score: 1
  
  You may not be aware of this, but most people who go out hiking in desert and wilderness areas are trying to get away from civilization for a while. I would find it extremely annoying, after having settled in for the evening or while trying to take a siesta, to have a robot intrude and offer me water. Given how most programming works, over and over and over again. Stranded motorists will be by the road; backcountry hikers won't want the interruption; about the only places where what you're proposing would make any sort of sense is on the desert border crossings, and I'm pretty sure that if we send robots into that area, they won't be offering water to those the drones are tracking.
6. Re:What happens north of New Vegas... by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-12 09:12 · Score: 0
  
  about the only places where what you're proposing would make any sort of sense is on the desert border crossings, and I'm pretty sure that if we send robots into that area, they won't be offering water to those the drones are tracking.
  Actually, they probably would. "Attention Human: You're dying of thirst. I have plenty of water, so let's hang out here until the Border Patrol guys get here, and they can take you back to Mexico alive so you can try again. You could run away, but I can drive faster than you can walk, so you're still going to be hanging out with me until the Border Patrol guys catch up with us."
  OK, so the robot would say it in Spanish, but you get the idea. Safer for the aliens, safer for the border patrol dudes, and as a bonus we develop the sort of tech that'll give us things like self-driving cars and better lunar/Martian/asteroid rovers.
7. Re:What happens north of New Vegas... by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-12 11:17 · Score: 0
  
  "Don't run....we are your friends..."
8. Re:What happens north of New Vegas... by uninformedLuddite · 2010-10-12 17:28 · Score: 1
  
  You may not be aware of this, but most people who go out hiking in desert and wilderness areas are trying to get away from civilization for a while. I would find it extremely annoying, after having settled in for the evening or while trying to take a siesta, to have a robot intrude and offer me water. Given how most programming works, over and over and over again.
  
  the desert border crossings, and I'm pretty sure that if we send robots into that area, they won't be offering water to those the drones are tracking.
  LOL - Yes they will. Probably tacos too. Obligatory Obama comment.
  
  --
  The new right fascists are bilingual. They speak English and Bullshit.
I for one... by bragr · 2010-10-12 05:41 · Score: 0, Redundant

... welcome our new nuclear, robotic overlords.
Reminds me of this slashdot story by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-12 05:43 · Score: 0

This story shows us that we won't be able to pay for humans to do this soon!
1. Re:Reminds me of this slashdot story by sjs132 · 2010-10-12 06:16 · Score: 1
  
  Spoiler... It points to a story about 60% of countries being in debt, etc...
  BUT, HU are they in debt to? YES... This could make a great comedy routine.
  
  --
  --- Relax, that mass muderer is just trying to reduce our carbon footprint, one fetus at a time...
In Soviet Russia... by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-12 05:44 · Score: 1, Funny

Nukes guard robots!
Hackathon Nevada: First Challenge by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-12 05:46 · Score: 0

The robots must have IP addresses for network control.
Yours In Novosibirsk,
Kilgore T.
Next steps by pseudorand · 2010-10-12 05:47 · Score: 1

This system is really cool, and the NNSA is already working on it's successor, the Mobile Identification Assessment Response System (MiARS). The MiARS ai-addon will figure out if what it detects is a terrorist, a vandal, an illegal immigrant or an innocent hiker lost in the desert and take appropriate action. Terrorists will be killed but for illegal immigrants they plan to just demonstrate MiARS's bare capabilities in hopes that the alien will be scared back across the border.
1. Re:Next steps by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-12 06:38 · Score: 0
  
  [MiARS] "TERRORIST IDENTIFIED AS OSAMA BIN LADEN. TERMINATION WILL COMMENCE IMMEDIATELY" [4 chain guns and rocket launcher deploy and are locked on]
  [Person]"Wait wait wait... I'm not that Osama Bin Laden, I've got an FAA redress number"
  [MiARS] "PLEASE SAY OR KEY IN YOUR REDRESS NUMBER"
  [Person]"1-7-5-0-2"
  [MiARS] "YOU SAID 175OD. THAT IS AN INCORRECT CODE. PLEASE SAY OR KEY IN YOUR REDRESS NUMBER"
  [Person]"ONE-SEVEN-FIVE-ZERO-TWO"
  [MiARS] "YOU SAID 175ZO2. THAT IS AN INCORRECT CODE. YOU HAVE EXCEEDED THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF ATTEMPTS"
  [Person]"Wait wait ..." [fortunately intrepid person realizes call center code must have been used] {desperately} "AGENT. OPERATOR. CUSTOMER SERVICE."
  [MiARS] "TRANSFERRING TO CUSTOMER SERVICE. YOUR WAIT TIME MAY EXCEED 10 MINUTES. DO NOT DEPART THE AREA"
  {elevator music commences... guns remain locked on}
  OK, I've wasted enough work time on this, anyone want to fill in the next part???
2. Re:Next steps by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-12 06:52 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  for illegal immigrants they plan to just demonstrate MiARS's bare capabilities in hopes that the alien will be scared back across the border.
  Possible (if improbable) outcomes:
  1. MiARS up on blocks, stripped of wheels and valuable metals.
  2. MiARS repurposed, with a new paint job and much lower suspension.
  3. MiARS obsoleted: Opponent is willing to do the dull, dirty, dangerous task for much less than the cost of maintaining MiARS.
Indiana Jones-Inspired Intruder Alert! by digitaldc · 2010-10-12 05:47 · Score: 1

This is an excellent idea, until someone builds an army of mobile refrigerators with gun turrets.

Then, NOTHING will be able to stop them! Not even accidental detonations!

--
He who knows best knows how little he knows. - Thomas Jefferson
1. Re:Indiana Jones-Inspired Intruder Alert! by mujadaddy · 2010-10-12 06:49 · Score: 1
  
  "Why don't they just make the rest of the plane out the stuff they make the black box out of?"
  
  --
  Populus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur...
  "Force shits upon Reason's back." - Poor Richard's Almanac
2. Re:Indiana Jones-Inspired Intruder Alert! by AJWM · 2010-10-12 11:06 · Score: 1
  
  Because then it would be too heavy to fly.
  I know, "whoosh".
  
  --
  -- Alastair
Re:Forget the robot by mlts · 2010-10-12 05:51 · Score: 1

Depends on Hummer. A mini-H1, sure. That is a decent vehicle made for military use and downscaled from 24 volts to 12 for its electrical system. A true Hummer also uses diesel, not gasoline, IIRC.
A H2 or H3... no thanks. Better off with a Suburban, Tahoe, or a Silverado hybrid. Instead, perhaps a Jeep Wrangler?
Scud by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-12 05:53 · Score: 0

Why couldn't congress spend money on these instead of more gestapo homeland security agents?
Just in time for the Fallout New Vegas release by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-12 05:56 · Score: 0

War Never Changes.
1. Re:Just in time for the Fallout New Vegas release by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-12 07:29 · Score: 0
  
  FUCK YEAAAAHRHRHRHRHR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  (I am very much looking forward to the impending release of the aforementioned video game.)
Nice Testing Ground by 32771 · 2010-10-12 06:02 · Score: 1

Only crazy guys around who shouldn't be there anyway or staff. Next application is the US-Mexican border I would guess.

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Je me souviens.
1. Re:Nice Testing Ground by sjs132 · 2010-10-12 06:22 · Score: 1, Troll
  
  Yes because once they find the undocumented workers, they could use it to guide them to water, weapons caches and drop off points. Sounds like a plan to me... Must guarantee the flow of blow to Whitehouse parties...
  
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  --- Relax, that mass muderer is just trying to reduce our carbon footprint, one fetus at a time...
2. Re:Nice Testing Ground by sjs132 · 2010-10-12 10:51 · Score: 1
  
  I was going for funny but got troll... Oh well, life goes on.
  
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  --- Relax, that mass muderer is just trying to reduce our carbon footprint, one fetus at a time...
why does this make me think of .... by 3seas · 2010-10-12 06:02 · Score: 0, Redundant

Skynet and the matrix????
Great by jhylkema · 2010-10-12 06:07 · Score: 1

Now where are all of the burnout ex-military PTSD cases going to work?
Massive security hole by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-12 06:19 · Score: 0

The MDARS can roam and scout the desert on its own, alerting a remote operator when it encounters something that shouldn’t be there
Simply disguise yourself as another MDARS robot - neither the robots or anyone else will pay you any attention as you drive in, steal the nuclear material, and drive back out.
What about h4XX0rZ? by singingjim1 · 2010-10-12 06:23 · Score: 1

Just one more thing for hackers to try and mess with.
1. Re:What about h4XX0rZ? by GodfatherofSoul · 2010-10-12 07:26 · Score: 1
  
  I think any sort of programmer outdoors would fall under "something that shouldn't be there"
  
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  I swear to God...I swear to God! That is NOT how you treat your human!
Two guys in camel costume. by KurtisKiesel · 2010-10-12 06:28 · Score: 0, Troll

All I can think of is some terrorists in some large animal costume walking around in the desert is all it takes to make this technology 100% waist of my taxpayer money.
1. Re:Two guys in camel costume. by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-12 06:45 · Score: 0
  
  All I can think of is some terrorists in some large animal costume walking around in the desert is all it takes to make this technology 100% waist of my taxpayer money.
  Hey, at least your education was only a 3.22% waste of our taxpayer money.
2. Re:Two guys in camel costume. by friedo · 2010-10-12 08:48 · Score: 1
  
  You don't find too many camels in Nevada.
3. Re:Two guys in camel costume. by meadowsp · 2010-10-12 21:47 · Score: 1
  
  At least the brainwashing worked, all he can think of is terrorists.
Meh by xednieht · 2010-10-12 06:31 · Score: 1

Lasers on Sharks > Camera on Mini-Hummer

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Hope is the currency of fools
No thanks by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-12 06:31 · Score: 0

Right, the best thing to have in the backcountry is someone who figures that they can switch off thier brain because there is some robotic St Bernard that will save them. It is bad enough that we have people who figure that since they have a gps that they don't need a map or a clue as to navigating. Plus I don't want your drones hovering over what is supposed to be wilderness.
Re:Forget the robot by AnAdventurer · 2010-10-12 06:33 · Score: 1

Arctic Trucks sells to the Dubai military police to patrol the desert. We might want to look into that option, they are great rigs according to my complete lack of knowledge in overland travel.

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6.8SPC TR of 550, l xwind at 6, drift rt at 26" drops 77". AT has 503 ft-lbs at 1403 fps. FT 0.86
I been there by paiute · 2010-10-12 06:41 · Score: 1

Having spent some time in that land, I can assure you that this robot will be covered with rifle bullet holes and shotgun pellet patterns within the month.

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If Slashdot were chemistry it would look like this:Cadaverine
Oooooooohhhhh.... by interval1066 · 2010-10-12 06:47 · Score: 1

...wellllll, I feel safe.

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Python: 'And then suddenly you have a language which says "we're all stuck with whatever the whiniest coder wants".'
Finally implemented? by LoudMusic · 2010-10-12 06:52 · Score: 1

I saw this technology on "Beyond 2000" back before ... 2000. It was really freaking cool ten years ago. Good to see it's being put to use. HOWEVER, I do realize there is more to this than driving a loop watching for stuff, but wouldn't it be a much more effective use of technology to mount the imaging stuff on a rail car? That way it doesn't have to worry about navigation. Or flat tires. And we're pretty damn good at making rails these days.
Hey! Someone mount a Vulcan AA gun on that thing!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M163_VADS

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No sig for you. YOU GET NO SIG!
1. Re:Finally implemented? by geekoid · 2010-10-12 11:49 · Score: 1
  
  the problem with rails int et the vehicle will be on rails. It can't do somplace to check something out.
  Also, cost.
  
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  The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
Hummer? by Virmal · 2010-10-12 06:55 · Score: 3, Insightful

They are trying to save money and they are using a mini Hummer?? How many gallons to the mile?
1. Re:Hummer? by geekoid · 2010-10-12 11:50 · Score: 1
  
  Yes, they should sue a prius out on the off road terrain~ This is th right vehicle for the job.
  
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  The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
2. Re:Hummer? by mjwx · 2010-10-12 18:21 · Score: 1
  
  They are trying to save money and they are using a mini Hummer?? How many gallons to the mile?
  After you've figured that out, can you convert it to a completely different yet obsolete and inconsistent measurement system like hogsheads to the furlong.
  
  --
  Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
I call BS by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-12 06:55 · Score: 1, Interesting

Not too long ago I had a NNSA contract and before we were allowed to drive on the NTS we had to take a course in how to not run over desert tortoises and other wildlife we might encounter (you were supposed to move the tortoise gently to the other side of the road). And that was just to get to drive cars on paved roads. Now they are going to let this offroad gizmo roam by itself and only phone home if it sees an anomaly?
GNR! by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-12 07:31 · Score: 0

A sweet 80's boom box cranking "You could be mine" by Guns N' Roses!
Re:Forget the robot by Wyatt+Earp · 2010-10-12 07:41 · Score: 1

A true Hummer runs on JP-8, at least since about 1998.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JP-8
Why doesn't the thing have a laser? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-12 07:46 · Score: 1, Funny

I know it goes without saying, BUT, why doesn't the thing have a laser? Wouldn't soldiers with access to the camera also want access the trigger? Just wondering...
Re:Forget the robot by Ex-MislTech · 2010-10-12 08:38 · Score: 1

Surprised they didn't use these:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWORDS

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google "32 trillion offshore needs IRS attention"
DARPA challenge? by failedlogic · 2010-10-12 08:41 · Score: 1

If I recall correctly, every year there is a DARPA challenge to have autonomous vehicles navigate a desert terrain in the US ... perhaps in Nevada itself. I wounder if this research is somehow related in that they might be using the results of these experiments on the vehicles in question for this article. I guess the best thing so far is they aren't armed .... yet anyways.
And so it begins... by Kildjean · 2010-10-12 09:16 · Score: 1

Then skynet gets launched...

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Nom de dieu de putain de bordel de merde de saloperie de connard d encule de ta mere.
Why would you tell anyone? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-12 09:20 · Score: 0

Let's just tell EVERYONE how we are guarding/patrolling our nuclear weapons... does this seem f-tarded to anyone else?
Daemon & Freedom by Amigori · 2010-10-12 10:07 · Score: 1

If you've read Daemon and/or Freedom by Daniel Suarez, this sounds like the Hummers guarding Matthew Sobol's house. There's other autonomous vehicles, but I won't give anything else away.

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"The quality of life is determined by its activites."--Aristotle
Re:Forget the robot by drinkypoo · 2010-10-12 12:03 · Score: 1

A true hummer will run on bunker fuel. Then again, so will my Ford, or my Mercedes. It'll produce a lot more nasty smoke, though, and a lot nastier too.

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"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
fake robots, anyone? by pikine · 2010-10-12 12:05 · Score: 1

If I want to steal cold-war nuclear weapons, I would build a robot that appears just like that, in case a run-in encounter is unavoidable.
Also, the radio signal that these robots emit is like a beacon saying "I'm coming, triangulate me."

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I once had a signature.
Just one word.... by cellmaker · 2010-10-12 16:40 · Score: 2, Interesting

Bolo http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolo_(tank)