ArmedRobots will be back.
Its human host is otherwise preoccupied presently.
Updates will resume.
Video of laser phalanx shooting down unmanned aerial vehicle
Raytheon CGI rendition:
As we initially reported here, we now have the ability to shoot down aircraft with high-powered lasers. The LaWS (Laser Weapon System) and Maritime Laser Weapon Systems are built onto the Phalanx target-tracking platform, but use lasers instead of bullets to take down targets. Raytheon’s Maritime Laser Weapon System was just demonstrated at the [...]
Dude.
Posted by Eric on August 2nd, 2010
Okay, this abomination is a new telepresence robot with skin. In other words, if you are having a teleconference with someone, this thing is supposed to add a “human” element to the proceedings. Ummm… forgive my skepticism here, but Caspar the Friendly Nightmarenoodle wouldn’t set me at ease during a meeting unless it were on fire. I hope they didn’t sink a lot of capital into this idea. Although I’m sure it will be great fun in someone’s haunted house eventually. Yccch!
From [designtaxi]
C.R.A.B. Police robot
Posted by Eric on July 30th, 2010
C.R.A.B. (Cybernetic Remote Autonomous Barricade) police robots are just a concept for now.
They will probably be more than a concept soon. And why shouldn’t they? What could go wrong? Something like this?
[yankodesign] via [slashgear]
Artificial Intelligence is changing everything
Posted by Eric on July 29th, 2010
“When compared to other branches of engineering, like electrical, chemical, nuclear, and mechanical engineering, AI’s impact on the world is admittedly modest… but this is mostly accounted for by the fact that AI, as a field, is only fifty-five years old. Fifty-five years after its discovery, electricity was still mainly seen as a laboratory curiosity. A hundred years later, it formed the backbone of our industrial civilization, and if anything, AI has even greater potential.”
Full article at [hplusmagazine]
What would make ArmedRobots.com better?
Posted by Eric on July 28th, 2010
If you had a chance to change something about this site, what would it be? What would you like to see added, removed, or changed? If you have any suggestions, please post them in a comment. (If you do not want it to be public, just specify that in your Comment.)
P.S. Comments like, “It would be better if it didn’t suck!” while witty, are not very useful. So be nice! Or at least civil. Thanks!
Army uses snake robots to form claw
Posted by Eric on July 28th, 2010
No video available at the time of this posting, unfortunately. The Army’s Robotic Tentacle Manipulator will likely be useful for rescue missions, diffusing IED’s and capturing humans working with the Resistance.
On a related note, here is a single robotic snake being used as a tentacle, or elephant trunk:
Armed robots to keep us in line
Posted by Eric on July 27th, 2010
“Robotic sentries are presently patrolling Israel’s 70-kilometer Gaza border, and South Korea’s 250-kilometer DMZ. Russia has developed a remarkably lethal beast — the MRK-27-BT — touted as superior to the USA’s SWORDS in Iraq, and Australia shot into the market with its ferociously-named Redback Metal Storm.”
Full article at [h+online]
Drone deployment in U.S. skies
Posted by Eric on July 23rd, 2010
“In June, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) agreed to expand flights of unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, along the Texas-Mexico border for surveillance purposes. Although unmanned aircraft have been used extensively by the military in Afghanistan and Iraq, the FAA has been hesitant to issue flying rights for the pilotless vehicles in the U.S. other than on a case-by-case basis, such as for border patrol. Last year, the agency promised defense officials it would unveil a plan for regulating unmanned planes this year, and it recently opened a new lab to explore how air traffic control systems can control unmanned aircraft for civilian and law-enforcement purposes. “
Article at [PhysOrg]
Robot learns to flip pancakes
Posted by Eric on July 22nd, 2010
This robot arm doesn’t have much to do with armed robots.. but the failed attempts are pretty funny. And it does show that robots can be taught to do pretty much anything people want to teach them to do. So far this year, robots have been learning to play soccer, fetch beers, iron clothes, fold clothes, wash dishes, play pool, seal off underwater oil leaks, teach kids English, and inspect the power grid. They already have robots that mow the lawn, sweep and vacuum floors… not to be impatient, but where is the robot that will take out the trash?
via [wired]
Video of laser phalanx shooting down unmanned aerial vehicle
Posted by Eric on July 21st, 2010
Raytheon CGI rendition:
As we initially reported here, we now have the ability to shoot down aircraft with high-powered lasers. The LaWS (Laser Weapon System) and Maritime Laser Weapon Systems are built onto the Phalanx target-tracking platform, but use lasers instead of bullets to take down targets. Raytheon’s Maritime Laser Weapon System was just demonstrated at the Farnborough International Air Show 2010. Here is the actual video:
The laser system in the video is 50,000 watts. Dailytech.com reports that Northrop-Grumman has announced a laser milestone of their own – the first 100,000 watt solid-state laser. Incorporating Northrop’s twice-as-powerful lasers, the LaWS and MLWS could be even more effective.
[Fast Company] via [dvice]
