DARPA is developing a program called “Biometrics-at-a-distance” which will enable sensors to pick up a heartbeat using electrocardiography. It will be able to track up to 10 humans at once, at a distance of over 10 meters, even through walls, doors, floors, or concrete. This will be an incredibly useful tool for soldiers in urban [...]
Posted in DARPA, defense, featured, future, government, military / law enforcement, research 
Tags: biometrics, DARPA, heartbeat, sensors 
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“Two small planes fly low over a village, methodically scanning the streets below. Within minutes, they spot their target near the edge of town. With no way to navigate through the streets, they radio for help. Soon after, a metallic blue SUV begins moving cautiously but purposefully along the dirt roads leading to town, seeking [...]
Posted in AI, autonomous, DARPA, defense, ethics, featured, flying, military / law enforcement No Comments »Boston Dynamics, creators of BigDog, LittleDog, and AlphaDog, have a new video of their impressive biped PETMAN: There is something familiar about it, I just can’t place my finger on it… PETMAN stayin alive: [BostonDynamics] via [Engadget]
Posted in biomimetic, biped, DARPA, defense, government, military / law enforcement, video Tags: biped, boston dynamics, petman No Comments »
PopSci’s Clay Dillow recounts last month’s AUVSI unmanned robotics conference entitled “Armed and Autonomous.” “It all sounds a bit Skynet, but it’s moving forward at a rapid pace…” [more at PopSci]
Posted in AI, autonomous, DARPA, defense, ethics, military / law enforcement, weapon Tags: autonomous, DARPA, drone, predator, reaper, weapon No Comments »
Say hello to AlphaDog Proto, the latest incarnation of Boston Dynamics’ BigDog. “The AlphaDog Proto is a lab prototype for the Legged Squad Support System, a robot being developed by Boston Dynamics with funding from DARPA and the US Marine Corps. When fully developed the system will carry 400 lbs of payload on 20-mile missions [...]
Posted in DARPA, defense, government, military / law enforcement, video Tags: alphadog, bigdog, boston, dynamics, quadraped No Comments »
Lockheed Martin has developed the SMSS robot pack mule, for supporting light infantry units. It can carry 1200 lbs, has a range of 125 miles, and can follow troops autonomously using LIDAR, IR and visual optics. If necessary, it can be driven manually. The SMSS is scheduled to be field tested in Afghanistan [...]
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]
Posted in AI, autonomous, biomimetic, defense, ethics, government, military / law enforcement, video, weapon Tags: c.r.a.b., crab, ed209, police No Comments »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: [Army.mil] via [Cnet] via [Gizmodo]
Posted in biomimetic, DARPA, defense, military / law enforcement, video Tags: claw, snake, tentacle No Comments »
“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]
Posted in AI, autonomous, DARPA, defense, ethics, future, military / law enforcement, weapon Tags: armed robots, dystopia No Comments »
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 [...]
Posted in DARPA, defense, flying, milestone, military / law enforcement, video, weapon Tags: anti-aircraft, laser, LaWS, Maritime Laser Weapon System, phalanx, r2-d2, Raytheon, uav No Comments »
