Military Robots
August 26, 2010
Iran Unveils Karrar Drone
Iran has been showing off its new UAV bomber. Named Karrar (farsi for Striker,) the drone can zoom up to 900 km/h with a range of 1000 km. Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says that it is a symbol of defense technology progress in the country, but it can apparently carry various types of bombs to let others know that it is not just for show.
Via BBC
July 19, 2010
So. Korea Employs Robotic Soldiers
South Korea has begun using robotic soldiers to keep up with the 1.2 million troops in the North. Developed by a group led by Samsung Techwin, the bots use heat and motion detection to find, warn and fire on soldiers that cross the Demilitarized Zone. At a cost of $330,000 apiece, that could be one expensive military force, but if they resemble this old video we found of an ST robot in action, very impressive.
Via Yonhap Newa
June 15, 2010
Swarming Flight Array Takes Off
Scientists at the Swiss Institute of Technology in Zurich have developed a Distributed Flight Array that consists of individual bots that fly together in a swarm. The drones have infrared beams to find each other and then connect with magnets. While each quadrocopter is somewhat clumsy alone, when they dock they become a "sophisticated multi-propeller system." Even if one fails, the others can still function and, if attacked, can detach and later regroup.
Via Red Orbit
June 2, 2010
iRobot Warrior Robot Demonstration
iRobot demonstrated its latest military bot, the Warrior, this week. Soldiers direct the robot into a questionable field. After arrival, the Warrior throws an APOBS (Mk7 Anti-personnel Obstacle Breaching System) across the air. Once the grenades hit the ground they explode, supposedly taking out any hidden IEDs or land mines and clearing the way for the military. Good news for those who support arming robots and iRobot's coffer, not so good for any human/animal caught in the crossfire.
Via spectrum ieee
May 25, 2010
Autonomous MuCar-3 Treks in Germany
Last week, the MuCar-3 was presented at the European Land Robot Trial in Germany. One of the first autonomous military vehicles, it can follow a lead car, stop and back up when necessary. The plan is that the bot, which is fitted with camera systems, computers, sensors and scanners, will be able to assist in seeking out explosives so that humans won't have to.
Via Mumbai Mirror
May 14, 2010
Boeing Shows Off Phantom Ray
With all the fuss of late concerning drones in the military, isn't it a comfort to know that the next generation is on its way? Boeing unveiled its Phantom Ray this week, part of their Phantom Works division. While the vehicle has no buyers as yet and Boeing claims that it will only provide a 'spectre of security,' we expect that with partial funding from DARPA, it won't be gathering dust for too long.
Via The Register
May 11, 2010
Drone Helicopter Tested
Lockheed Martin and Kaman Aerospace Corporation took a K-MAX helicopter and transformed it into a UAV, hoping to use it for resupplying field troops. They took it on a test ride that included 4 cargo airdrops at a time from 300 - 400 ft. up using a four-hook carousel. A total of 11 tests were conducted with one time use aerodynamic decelerators at a cost of about $375 each time. The unmanned copter, after further development, can be used either during the day or at night to hide from the dreaded evils of war and can carry loads of up to 4,300 lb. at 15,000 ft.
Via Lockheed Martin
April 27, 2010
X-37B and Its "Secretive" Mission
The US Air Force launched a robotic space plane last week under a supposedly top secret cover. We figure that if we are aware of the X-37B, it's not all that secret. The Orbital Test Vehicle, after reaching space, will open its payload bay, assemble and stay there for months via solar power. The mini-space station will then fly itself back to our planet. What it does while it is up there is where the "secretive" part comes in.
Via Fox
April 20, 2010
ADF Utilizes Robots for Target Practice
The Australian Defense Force has gone one step further than pop-up targets and uses robots from Marathon Robotics for sniper target practice. The autonomous bots have Segway RMP bases and are programmed to wander around like civilians evil forces. (Serpentine!) When one goes down, they run for cover like girly boys frightened evil forces. So what happens when robotic soldiers start taking target practice? We get that much closer to humanless war.
Via Marathon Robotics
March 25, 2010
RUM Suicide Bomber
The US Defense Threat Reduction Agency may have been remembering Hitler's famous bunker or those hidden tunnels in the Middle East when they decided that a Robotic Underground Munition would be a handy thing to have around. A RUM hits the dirt, starts drilling and then blows itself up. The suicide bomberbot should also be able to communicate, avoid obstacles and have sensors so its can find its way. Contact the agency if you think you have the right stuff to create one.
Via FBO
March 23, 2010
HDT Robotic Arm Carries 3 Times its Weight
HDT has released a new robotic arm system designed for medical, military and homeland security usage. It made its formal debut at the NDIA Ground Robotics Capabilities Conference last week. The MK1 robotic arm can carry more than 50 pounds although it only weighs about 14 lbs. It has 11ยบ of freedom, 3 fingers and four actuators to move its 10 joints. It is controlled by a joystick and all of the joints can be controlled at the same time, making more efficient than previous arms.
Via HDT
February 23, 2010
UK Plans Drones for 2012 Olympics
The UK is developing a fleet of modified military aircraft drones for surveillance. Including miniature tactical crafts like the AirRobot and the HERTI drone, already in Afghanistan, they will be used on bad motorists with road rage, protesters and others that wreak havoc. Look for them to be in place by the 2012 Olympics and to be equipped with tasers, disorienting strobe lights and non-lethal projectiles.
Via Wired
January 21, 2010
AR.Drone Controlled by iPhone/iPod touch
The French Company Parrot debuted their AR.Drone at the CES 2010. The quadrocopter is controlled via iPhone or iPod touch via a WiFi connection. The robotic flyer has two cameras, an ultrasonic altimeter and a gyro/accelerometer based stabilization system. It also features an "augmented reality" system that allows users to game on the video feed or compete against other drones. While the company claims that the AR.D is "intuitive and user friendly," we expect it to move to military status sometime soon.
Via Parrot
January 19, 2010
Anti-Terrorism Robot Sent to Logan Airport
Black-I Robotics recently delivered a robot to Boston's Logan Airport that can help detect and disarm explosives. Paid for by $800,000 in Congressional funds, the Black Knight, named after the West Point mascot, replaces an outdated model, with its controller an Xbox console. The bot is one of three distributed and was dedicated to Army Ranger First Lt. Derek Hines, a West Point graduate who was killed in Afghanistan.
Via WBZ TV
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