Monday, January 12, 2009

War Against The Machines

Robots.

Once the realm of science fiction and Hollywood films such as "The Terminator", they've quietly moved off of the screen and out of the books into the real world.

There are several large manufacturers of autonomous platforms, such as TALON, turning these machines out for every purpose from reconnaisance, EOD, rescue and even combat.


..... ASSAULT TALON EQUIPPED WITH SAW .....

Foster-Miller also builds the MAARS (Modular Advanced Armed Robotic System) platform pictured below:

The unit is capable of lifting 100 lbs and is equipped with an M240B automatic weapon.

Now, we're just poor average joes out here. How can we compete against a force fielding such weaponry?

It's simple. Build your own.

Now, this one is based upon lexan plastic pieces and hobby servos, but can easily be scaled up to handle full size weapons. Visit this site for parts lists and software free for download.

To give you an idea of what a similar system is capable of, watch the video:



The actual system featured in the video is found at this page. The page isn't complete and looks like it is moving to another site. There's also nothing to download and mess around with like the first site I referenced, RobotAirSoft.

Hacked Gadgets also featured something similar here.

And if you want to build a poorman's Predator, go here.

4 comments:

Cygnus MacLlyr said...

First thing that came to mind when I saw your title-- and 12/13 words into your post... I was only 19 or 20, and already felt... something not quite defined until the movie's closing speech. On the walk home, with my pregnant (then) wife, I couldn't sense the paradise of the Hawaiian summer, only a sense of foreboding.
Thanks for leading us in the direction to fight fire with fire.

HermitJim said...

That's a pretty wicked gun in the video...maybe I should build something like that for my yard here in the city! If nothing else, it might discourage visits from the neighbors dogs!

Catman said...

Hey Cygnus,and HermitJim,

Shadow, a friend of mine, often says the problem is not technology, but the people who use it.

We, the public, have to keep up with the tech in order to combat those who would misuse it. There are some articles out there about capturing these devices and using them against those who originally fielded them. Kinda like Cameron in the Sarah Conner Chronicles.

Yeah, that paintball gun would be good to run off the dogs. I wonder if it can be trained to just target dogs. I e-mailed the guy working on the system, I'll keep you posted on what he says.

Catman said...

All,

I heard from Dave who is working on the automated system featured in the video. There are some legal things being worked out, as soon as that is taken care of, he'll be putting his stuff up on e-bay.