Lockheed Martin announces "centralized controller" for UAVs
Lockheed Martin has just completed testing a new "centralized controller device for unmanned air and ground vehicles." This new gadget can guide up to four systems, be they UAVs or UGVs (unmanned ground vehicles). Using a touchscreen laptop and a "hand controller" (we'll assume that's a joystick), the company was able to test landing and launching UAVs and UGVs of all sizes. Of course, once this is integrated with Raytheon's five-monitor UAV setup (ha, that'll be the day), Lockheed Martin could probably devote one unmanned vehicle per monitor, and have one to spare for reading Engadget.[Via Gizmag]
Filed under: Transportation
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dylan Neild @ Dec 13th 2006 3:28AM
Is it called SkyNet? It is, isn't it.
hp540 @ Dec 13th 2006 6:36AM
once they equip them with lasers....
Adam Broun @ Dec 13th 2006 9:32AM
Integrate this with the "Machine Readable News" item a couple of articles down, and we can go back to watching Simpspons reruns while our foreign policy is completely automated.
Chris @ Dec 13th 2006 9:43AM
When are they going to get around to making these things fully autonomous? For cryin' out loud, this is 2006, we shouldn't have to pull a trigger to kill someone anymore.
On a serious note. I'm taking reservations for the move to NASA's moon base the day these do become fully autonomous.
doug @ Dec 13th 2006 1:49PM
Most of it is already automated... no pilot flying the global hawk. the operator can make changes to the mission, but the mission is preprogrammed and executed auto. given that they've lost UAVs by people fat fingering mission specs, I'm ok with a lack of 'automation' in the weapons systems :)
badaczewski @ Dec 13th 2006 10:11AM
Dylan Neild, you are the man for the SkyNet reference.
me94132 @ Dec 13th 2006 6:45PM
UAVs already come armed. can hold up to...i think it was four air to ground missiles.
Murc @ Dec 14th 2006 11:43PM
The aircraft in the picture is the Predator B...it can hold 8 hellfire missiles.
whoooyaaa
ghilliegadget @ Dec 14th 2006 12:06AM
hmm...you posted a pic of the Predator B, of General Atomics-Aeronautical Systems (leading competitor of LM in the UAV market).