Related Sections: Future Tech Robots
Can you shoot me now? Robots to extend wireless networks on battlefields
The Wi-Fi robots are coming! The Wi-Fi robots are coming! Yes, those wacky cats at DARPA, the U.S. military's technology R&D center, are at it again. This time, though, the idea is a little more plausible than some of their other ideas (like, say, cyborg butterflies). On a battlefield, wireless access can get a little spotty, so DARPA came up with the LANdroid, a roving wireless access point. Advancing troops would drop one of these bots wherever they'd need to extend a network, with each LANdroid seeking out the best place to act as a node. And if one of them has the unfortunate luck of rolling straight into the enemy, the other nodes will automatically move around make up for its loss.
Each LANdroid is the size of your palm and costs about $100. DARPA hasn't built them yet, but is excited enough about the project to publicly solicit proposals. A self-creating roving wireless network would be a cool idea for disaster-relief scenarios, too, so let's hope this is one DARPA project that gets some traction.
The Register, via Oh Gizmo!
By nzjade at 3:17 PM ON 06/21/07
For emergency services, Fire, Police, Search & Rescue, this little gem would be invaluable.
They're also cool looking.
By edwardscifi at 8:48 PM ON 06/26/07
So ... Silly question ... As our enemies are getting more and more tech savvy, what would happen if one of these LANdroids gets captured? And say … I don’t know … Dissected and hacked into the network.
Our army is fighting terrorists at the moment, and such may be a common enemy for a time, so hacking into the network, they could cause a ton of terrorism to the families of GI’s, no?
Hrmm, seems too gimmicky and too vulnerable IMO
-E
By rassd71 at 12:14 PM ON 03/06/08
It really depends on what the encryption is as to how vulnerable they would be, and to exactly what the LAN was connected to.
But as our fighting forces get more and more tech based, these would allow for real time information sharing on the battlefield, and that is a HUGE advantage.
By ryokukitsune at 10:19 PM ON 03/06/08
well I have one big question for the plasability of the use in the battlefeild and disaster relief... do they float? if so can they swim?
comon, you have to admit it would be slightly comical to see a pocket router chugging a crossed a pond...
on your cellphone!
Text DVICE to 72434
editor@dvice.com
ryokukitsune:
well I have one big question for the plasability of the use in the battlefeild and disaster relief... do they float...More »