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MAST Spider Robots Like Minority Report
Autonomous spider robots are under development by the Micro Autonomous Systems and Technology (MAST) consortium. The Army Research Lab has given BAE Systems $38 million to lead and fund the project.
(Spider robot concept from BAE Systems)
The intent is to create swarm of autonomous robots able to get into small spaces where people cannot go; it will also provide a way to easily check out dangerous places that are now assigned to police or soldiers.
The image shown above was provided by BAE Systems; I'm wondering if someone there was watching Minority Report while he was putting together the image.
In the movie, it becomes necessary for officers to quickly search a flophouse. They reach into their utility belts and toss out some tiny robotic 'spiders.'
(Spider robot swarm from Minority Report)
I wonder if MAST will add iris scanning to their spider robots; and will they implement it as neatly as Steven Spielberg did in the iris-scanning spider robot swarm from Minority Report.
The Micro Autonomous Systems and Technology consortium is also studying the possibility of Swarming Micro Air Vehicle Networks, in which tiny MAVs could form a kind of swarming ad hoc network.
Via Wired,
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 5/1/2008)
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