When you’re eight years old it doesn’t take much imagination for a cardboard tube on the end of your arm to become a missile launcher or a machine gun. But when you’re older, it takes a little more convincing. And that’s clearly what inspired this inflatable faux minigun. More »
Advances in unmanned military tools and vehicles have come on leaps and bounds, but, until now, we haven’t seen a weapon firing drone operating in the seas. A recent test taking part offshore near Maryland saw several missiles launched from a new remote-controlled inflatable-hulled ship. While the Navy has used drones before for mine clearing and other defensive tasks, the small boat (similar to that pictured above) is the first experiment to involve true offensive capabilities. The almost zodiac-like craft has been an ongoing project over recent years, and contains a fully automated system which the Navy calls a “Precision Engagement Module” which uses an Mk-49 mounting with a dual missile launcher manufactured by Rafael. The hope is that such vehicles could patrol the coastline, or serve as a first defense against pirates, and other such small, fast-moving seafaring dangers. If you want to catch it in action, head past the break for the video, but don’t be fooled. While it might look like a series of misses, the Navy claims this is just a trick of the camera angle, with all six missiles apparently making contact.
Continue reading US Navy tests first 11-meter missile-firing sea drone (video)
Filed under: Robots, Transportation
US Navy tests first 11-meter missile-firing sea drone (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Oct 2012 05:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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If you didn’t already pick up that giant fist for carrying around your beer, you might want to hold off and buy these instead. These giant, inflatable fists turn your mitts into massive mech-like robo-fists.
The Giant Robot Battle Fists are perfect for taking down all who dare to stand in your way – without actually leaving them with a concussion. Actually, ThinkGeek says that if you punch things with them, you might pop ‘em, so boo, hiss. Still they’re pretty awesome for your Halloween costume. Just think – you can go as crazy-robot-hand-guy again, but this time people will know who you are.
A pair of this oversize blow-up fists will set you back $35(USD) over at ThinkGeek. Air and pursed lips not included.
Summer is nearly over, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still hit the pool or swim in the ocean for the next few months. These Star Wars inflatable pool toys are inspiration enough for me to hop back in the waters, even with Fall approaching.
As you can see, the series includes awesome Millennium Falcon and X-Wing Fighter floating loungers, as well as the world’s best beachball – made to look like the Death Star. But I think the floating R2-D2 drink server is my favorite, as the little droid was built to serve after all. And if your favorite body of water happens to be a swamp, you can pretend to be on Dagobah.
Apparently, these things were made by Jakks Pacific a couple of years ago and distributed through Target stores in the US and Walmart stores in Canada. I never saw them in stores, and I’m not sure if they’re still making them, but you might want to keep an eye out on eBay for them to turn up there. In the mean time, I found a Jar Jar Binks inflatable pool if you’d like to fill it with water and then throw Jarts at Jar Jar’s face.
[via GeekTyrant]
If you remember our Bots of War series from last year, than you are familiar with iRobot’s hardcore military robot fleet. But just because they’re awesome doesn’t mean they’re done evolving. The comping generations may have lightweight, inflatable arms. More »
iRobot may be best known for its household automatons, but the company’s expertise goes far beyond circular bots built for sweeping and scrubbing floors. Its Warrior and 110 FirstLook bots are built for the military, and now the Advanced Inflatable Robot (AIR) arm model is joining its armed forces brethren. The AIRarm prototype is essentially a Packbot whose metal arm’s been replaced with an inflatable version able to lift four times its own half-pound weight. That might not seem like much, but considering most rigid robot arms can only lift a fraction of their own weight, it represents a sizable gain in strength-to-weight ratio. Plus, the arm can get stronger by simply dialing up the air pressure. As an inflatable limb, it can also operate delicately around meatbags — just as the air pressure is increased for strength, it can be decreased when in close proximity to people so as not to injure them. For its prototype effort, iRobot’s going to get a $625,000 contract from DARPA to continue the AIRarm’s development, and you can see a bit of what that money will buy in the video after the break.
Filed under: Robots
iRobot’s AIRarm prototype bot has an inflatable arm for manipulating objects, was built at DARPA’s behest originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 07:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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If you’ve got $13,000 burning a hole in your pocket, and a desire to have the most kick-ass backyard in the neighbourhood, no swingset or even tree house is going to outdo this mind-blowing 1,850 square foot inflatable obstacle course. More »
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