warfare
Robots
Navy Says Combat Robots Multiplying Fast, Need ‘Battlefield Ethics’ Pronto
12:00PM Wilson Rothman | A new report commissioned by the Office of Naval Research makes a grim statement about the increasing danger of combat-trained robots in the 21st century: “We are going to need a warrior code.” More »
Gadgets
Paper Aeroplane Launcher Is Tangible Representation of Your Laziness
5:30AM Jack Loftus | Are those few grams of paper aeroplane too much to bear? Has throwing an aeroplane become a chore in and of itself? Then launch that sucker with this gizmo from your desk, Captain Lazy Pants. More »
Robots
New MAARS Kill-Bot Delivered to Military, May Finally Get to Shoot Something
6:10AM Sean Fallon | You may recall that earlier robots developed by Foster-Miller had some minor safety issues in Iraq last year that reportedly shook up confidence in the entire kill-bot program. That story turned out to be a bit of an exaggeration, but it was clear that a newer, safer design would have to be implemented to get things back on track. To that end, Foster-Miller has delivered the 160kg MAARS (Modular Advanced Armed Robotic System), which they emphasise as being “human operated.” More »
Robots
Combat Robots Not Being Withdrawn From Iraq Says Company, Human Masters Safe
2:49AM Gizmodo US Edition | Remember those gun-toting robots that were being pulled out of Iraq because they were moving when they weren’t commanded? Well, according to their manufacturer it’s all “an urban legend” — the SWORD robot is not going to spin around and point its gun at friendlies… it’s fine’n'dandy and still deployed in the field. Phew. Looks like our soldiers are safe from a robot uprising for now. But where did the original story come from? More »
Online
Yahoo to Microsoft: Show Me More Money!
9:20PM Jesus Diaz | Jerry Yang has pulled a mix between Neo and Rod Tidwell in the latest round of corporate warfare between Yahoo! and Microsoft, showing them the finger and asking Steve Ballmer to show them more money. His complete jibba jabba after the jump. More »
_
Nerf Maverick Office Weapon Won’t Kill You, Plays Doom
8:22PM Seamus Byrne | Bang, bang, my baby shot me down. With a foam dart. And this Nerf Maverick, which loads six into its barrel and fires them in rapid succession at 15 feet away. And yes, ironically, this thing lets you play Doom, as shown in the video after the jump. More »
_
XM To Rebroadcast Original D-Day Radio Broadcasts
4:50AM Seamus Byrne | XM is doing something really unique next week and I can’t wait to listen. Beginning Wednesday, June 6, XM is going to air the original radio news bulletins from NBC Radio for the D-Day invasion, in real time almost exactly how the reports were heard 63 years ago. It will begin at 12:41 am Eastern time on Channel 4, The 40s, to correspond when the actual first reports were going live. In addition to the actual reports and updates from the war, there will be era music and commentary about the day from members of NBC’s news staff. I am particularly interested because I really want to hear the reports and get a feeling for how media treated war 60 years ago, compared with what it has turned into today. It is also a great way to reflect on the servicemen that lost their lives on that day. –Travis Hudson XM recreates D-Day radio coverage in real-time [Orbitcast] More »
_
U.S. Army Future Combat System: Like Battlefield 2142, But in Real Life
9:15AM Seamus Byrne | It’s Memorial Day, so CNET got into the act by putting together a rundown of some of the Army’s Future Combat System, which “envisions a family of high-tech gear including sensors, aerial drones, and manned and unmanned ground vehicles, all fully networked and linked to individual soldiers” that will ultimately help save lives. galleryPost('armyfcs', 8, 'U.S. Army FCS');– Matt Buchanan More »
_
LJDAM Adds GPS and Laser Guidance to Bombs
10:45PM Seamus Byrne | This is a B-2 plane dropping a bomb equipped with the Joint Direct Attack Munition guidance kit. The kit adds inertial navigation and global positioning systems to the tail of traditional warheads. Unlike the more expensive traditional TV or laser guidance systems, which only work well in good weather, these bombs use the same GPS that you have in your car to hit targets like Osama Bin Laden, Ronald McDonald and Paris Hilton under any meteorological conditions. If you know where they are hiding, that is. And if they are not moving. There’s also a version that uses laser (called LJDAM) to further increment precision, 600 of which have just been ordered by the US military citing “compelling and urgent operational needs.” No kidding. The LJDAM comes at two price points: $48,000 apiece for people who want to mount them on planes, and free for people receiving them on the ground, delivery included. – Jesus Diaz galleryPost('ljdam', 8, 'ljdam'); JDAM: A GPS-INS Add-on Adds Accuracy to Airstrikes [Defense Industry Daily] More »
_
