iRobot to convert UW's academic Seaglider into military drone

It was more than a year ago when we first told you about the Seaglider (aka, Deepglider) autonomous robot used for academic research. As of today, it has the deep pocketed backing of iRobot. As soon as the ink dries, iRobot gains the sole rights to the University of Washington's technology and its long-range, high-endurance vehicle -- 70 of which are already making "oceanographic measurements" around the world. Presumably speaking to a crowd of generals with an affinity for Buck Turgidson, Helen Greiner, co-founder and chairman of iRobot said:

"We have a strong track record for transferring new technology from research initiatives into products that support military missions. Ten years ago we transformed the original PackBot into a combat-proven robot used today by soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, and licensing the Seaglider from the University of Washington will help our robots conquer new underwater frontiers."

Really Helen, conquer? Enemies of The State, you've been warned.

[Via gizmag]

[fredouil @ Jun 11th 2008 4:15AM]

That would make me sick if i was one of the research students on this project to build something to help the mankind but instead seeing it transformed as another crazy killing machine that will surely destroy many life in the future.

howful

[ben @ Jun 11th 2008 4:18AM]

Finally, exactly what we need to execute aquatic regime changes and bring democracy to the seven seas. The Mackerel will greet us with flowers in the streets.

[LondonConsultant @ Jun 11th 2008 6:33AM]

Saddam Haddock can launch of Whales of Mass Destruction within 45 minutes. Be afraid, be very afraid.

[Miguel @ Jun 11th 2008 4:42AM]

Ooh, look: heavyhanded, snide political commentary that completely misconstrues a quote. Bravo.

"licensing the Seaglider from the University of Washington will help our robots conquer new underwater frontiers."

Underwater frontiers. Yeah. Not underwater national entities. (Did the Atlanteans survive and no one informed me!?) Kind of like man has been "conquering" frontiers for ages.

In other news, iRobot made a business decision to purchase what they see as viable military technology, an underwater Predator drone, if you will, that can sniff out marine mines and enemy craft without putting our people in danger. Soon, they might even make it Roomba's partner and it can clean my giant fishtank.

I don't like the War in Iraq or Afghanistan, but I support a strong national military. I also support cool new technologies that eventually trickle down to the consumer. Like computers. And jet aircraft. And carbon fiber.

Engadget for technology news=win.
Thomas Ricker's anti-military bias=fail.

[Wwhat @ Jun 11th 2008 7:12AM]

There's fail here alright, but guess who's the one failing..

[??? @ Jun 11th 2008 6:20AM]

what a pathetic photoshop. no legs :(

great movie/reference though

[Wwhat @ Jun 11th 2008 7:14AM]

Indeed, that could have been done better, and at that resolution the person doing it could have just drawn a few squiggly lines as legs and it would have worked better.

[generally @ Jun 11th 2008 8:16AM]

"We have a strong track record for transferring new technology from
research initiatives into products that support military missions."

And exactly how hard is it to turn new research into military
hardware? This is their design meeting:

"We could give it armor."
...
"How about guns?"
"Yeah, guns!"
...
...
"And we could make it faster!"
"Yeah, you're onto something!"
...

Come on.

[kal326 @ Jun 11th 2008 9:41AM]

No you got it all wrong, its NEW technology. Its gotta have lasers! In case it runs into sharks.....with...ah...lasers on their heads....

[Alex @ Jun 11th 2008 8:25AM]

My wife calls me Deepglider.

....

what?

[Vic the One @ Jun 11th 2008 11:48AM]

So uh... The drone is some guy's member? Or is he having relations with it? I'm confused... This kind of looks like the bear humping scene from Super Troopers...

[Wwhat @ Jun 11th 2008 2:03PM]

It's the texan riding the nuke from the movie dr. strangelove, but riding the seaglider in this rendition.
Go rent it, it's a classic and watchable.

[srue @ Jun 11th 2008 12:42PM]

The obsession with Dr. Strangelove continues.

[nox @ Jun 11th 2008 1:35PM]

Ok really, all it does is take scientific measurements of water. I kind of doubt that that it's going to be killing someone anytime soon.

[Wwhat @ Jun 11th 2008 2:05PM]

Read the helpful quote, which includes "..Ten years ago we transformed the original PackBot into a combat-proven robot used today by soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan..:
Now it's temperatures, tomorrow it's killing you.

[nox @ Jun 11th 2008 2:52PM]

Right except we already have these devices called torpedoes that do the job a lot better than the slow moving seaglider ever could. The Packbot was essentially designed for military use from the start (to scout ahead for danger with a camera) whereas the seaglider was designed for purely research. The only military application right now for it is to examine water currents that could essentially "hide" submarines.