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Shotgun-wielding helicopter
It might not be the most sophisticated airborne weapon, but it seems pretty effective.A US company called Neural Robotics has modified a miniature autonomous helicopter by attaching a remote-controlled shotgun, thus creating the "AutoCopter Gunship". The mini-copter can fly either autonomously or under the remote control of a "virtual pilot". The company claims that even novices can pilot the craft with relative ease, thanks to "neural network flight algorithms" that steady the vehicle's flight. And now, pilots can also remotely track targets via a video camera and "neutralise them" using an AA-12 Full-Auto Shotgun, which fires both regular 12-gauge shotgun ammo and FRAG-12 grenade rounds. See the video here. The AutoCopter can fly forwards at 60 mph and sideways at 35 mph and its gun has a range of around 90 metres. The next version will even come with thermal and infra-red night vision cameras. Better just hope your kids don't get hold of the remote control. Obvious anti-terrorism application in places like Iraq. Otherwise, these devices are getting more and more like the fictional devices I wrote about in Autonomous Operation Posted by: phil_b 2006-03-04 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=144387 |