Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

First Successful Unmanned Drone Landing On an Aircraft Carrier

Posted by samzenpus on from the let-the-computer-do-it dept.

redletterdave writes "Salty Dog 502 flew from the Patuxent River Naval Station in Maryland to the USS George H.W. Bush operating off the Virginian coast, but unlike other drones, Salty Dog was piloted entirely by computer without a human operator. The unmanned operation is considered one of the most difficult operations due to navigating the air and a moving ship, and many have said it's a major milestone in the development of drone warfare. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus described the event as witnessing the future and compared it to the first manned aircraft landed on a carrier in 1911."

7 of 176 comments (clear)

  1. The claim of first drone landing is incorrect ! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    G.W. Bush landed on a carrier years before this.

  2. Re:a peaceful dream by Cenan · · Score: 3, Funny

    And after that:
    Air Force will realize that it's stupid to have a carrier that's also a boat, build a plane and the prophecy that is Starcraft will come to pass.

    --
    ... whatever ...
  3. Re: just wait... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Similarly, the first human heavier than air flight. That's why aviation has no future whatsoever.

  4. unmanned drone? by etash · · Score: 3, Funny

    wasn't drone enough? is anyone aware of manned drones?

    1. Re:unmanned drone? by Required+Snark · · Score: 1, Funny
      Oh, you're referring to TANG, the Texas Air National Guard. That's where former president GW Bush managed to dodge going to Viet Nam and spend a lot of time AWOL, which is the old school version of pilotess flight.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bush_military_service_controversy

      --
      Why is Snark Required?
  5. Re:all hail our new robot overloads. by rullywowr · · Score: 2, Funny

    All your base are belong to us

  6. Re:big whoop by xQx · · Score: 3, Funny

    Great observation but i still find the calculations involved trivial.

    Really Sheldon?

    Show me.