Related Sections: Military Robots Security Video
T-34 security 'bot shoots a web like Spidey to take down bad guys
From the "Aren't you a little short to be a Terminator?" school of design comes the squat Tmsuk T-34, which, while it won't cut you down at the ankles (nor is it a Soviet tank), packs a powerful net-launching mechanism that wraps opponents in a web like Spider-Man's. It's essentially a remote-controlled car that fires a net, controlled by cellphone with live video feedback (crazy advanced Japanese cellphones, mind you).
The T-34 will cost about $9,000 when it's ready to be marketed to businesses in two years — meanwhile Tmsuk will be working on a home defense version. I don't know how effective it is at incapacitating an opponent, but it sure does look annoying — check out a video of the 'bot in action by clicking Continue.
Via SlashGear
By Ashapasian at 5:29 PM ON 01/23/09
Um, are nets like this really effective. I mean it looks like this is having trouble with it, but really. If its just to slow someone down for a little until authorities can catch up, they maybe. But I can't see this being effective for more than a Minute.
By Stuart Dryburgh at 6:25 PM ON 01/23/09
They need to redesign it to look like a naked woman. Because otherwise why would a crook just stand there and wait to be netted. Or is it for quadriplegic thieves?
By FSM at 7:20 AM ON 01/24/09
Are you kidding me? This is ridiculous! Look at the guys feet in the video. How will this have any effect if the guy can still move his feet? In a real situation, the targeted person could just run away! Great article, terrible product. Maybe it can replace a few guards, if that's its goal, but there still needs to be someone controlling it. And even then all you would need is two 'opponents' to warrant the need for more guards. Yeah, I put too much thought into this...
And I was shocked to see just now, that this is headline news at foxnews.com. Picture and everything on their homepage. What?
By Inspector X at 12:53 PM ON 01/25/09
I think adding a taser hooked to the webbing would bring the stopping power needed to really to hold someome down and since it's remote controled, if the crook tries to get up you could ZAP him or her back to the gound.
By rumster at 7:48 PM ON 01/25/09
Would be nice if it allows replacing the ammo with different choices. How about a flamethrower?
By Vashnyra at 7:49 PM ON 01/26/09
Mayor: That tiny net was sure-fire master!
Master Betty: Yes, a tiny net is a death sentence, it's a net and it's tiny!
By Jackalope73 at 3:36 AM ON 01/29/09
9,000 dollar T-34 , Criminal with a 300 dollar shotgun, the mess when he blows your Tyco turbo webber to pieces in your living room, priceless! For a tenth of the cost you can get a faster, smarter, and way more effective device. It's called a dog.
By Baystreet at 11:18 AM ON 03/12/09
I didn't think those shotgun-proof dogs had been released yet, Steve Jobs said they wouldn't go live until April at the earliest.
By Perrin at 1:34 AM ON 03/21/09
@Jackalope73: The kind of folks who'll shell out $9K for a security robot won't stop at one. All they have to do is outnumber the intruders by n+1 (where n=total number of shotgun shells) and maintain proper formation (i.e., separated so that one shell won't take out more than one robot) and things become more interesting. In terms of strategy, stop thinking "Mortal Kombat" (one-on-one) and think more along the lines of "Resident Evil" (lone human invader versus lots and lots and lots of mechanical defenders).
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Perrin:
@Jackalope73: The kind of folks who'll shell out $9K for a security robot won't stop at one. All they have to do is...More »