sharedholder
12-03-2003, 07:56 AM
Pentagon may use Segways in war
A REPORT from AP says that the Pentagon may use the otherwise ill-fated Segway as a so-called battlefield robot in future wars.
The report says that boffins funded by the Pentagon have already made Segway-based robots that can avoid obstacles, open doors and dribble footballs.
The picture on the left is a representation of what a typical SegWayBot might look like, equipped with a silicon-based highly intelligent robot on board.
The SegwayBots could be used to search for injured squaddies or trail infantry and carry their gear.
Well. You probably remember the Daleks in Doctor Who had a lot of trouble when they invaded the earth. Stairs were the big problem.
We expect that SegwayBots will also have problems covering certain kinds of terrain, such as the Falkland Islands, or maybe Afghanistan.
However, if the US Army finds itself ever invading the The Netherlands, the flatness of the terrain may give the SegwayBots and the infantry that edge.
But an army with SegwayBots should beware an enemy equipped with strong electro-magnets, such as the Dutch army. The hard drive that contains the software wizardy is likely to be a bit confused by these...
So far only 6,000 Segways have been sold. µ
SOURCE (http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=12978)
A REPORT from AP says that the Pentagon may use the otherwise ill-fated Segway as a so-called battlefield robot in future wars.
The report says that boffins funded by the Pentagon have already made Segway-based robots that can avoid obstacles, open doors and dribble footballs.
The picture on the left is a representation of what a typical SegWayBot might look like, equipped with a silicon-based highly intelligent robot on board.
The SegwayBots could be used to search for injured squaddies or trail infantry and carry their gear.
Well. You probably remember the Daleks in Doctor Who had a lot of trouble when they invaded the earth. Stairs were the big problem.
We expect that SegwayBots will also have problems covering certain kinds of terrain, such as the Falkland Islands, or maybe Afghanistan.
However, if the US Army finds itself ever invading the The Netherlands, the flatness of the terrain may give the SegwayBots and the infantry that edge.
But an army with SegwayBots should beware an enemy equipped with strong electro-magnets, such as the Dutch army. The hard drive that contains the software wizardy is likely to be a bit confused by these...
So far only 6,000 Segways have been sold. µ
SOURCE (http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=12978)