Engadget RSS Feed http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2013 AOL Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ <![CDATA[US Navy deploys SeaFox submarines to Persian Gulf for universal mine control]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/16/us-navy-deploys-seafox-submarines/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/16/us-navy-deploys-seafox-submarines/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/16/us-navy-deploys-seafox-submarines/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments US Navy deploys SeaFox submarines to Persian Gulf for universal mine control

Tasked with mine detection and eradication in the Persian Gulf, the US Navy has sent a fleet of unmanned submarines to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open in Iran. Dubbed the SeaFox, each vehicle houses an underwater TV camera, sonar and a dose of explosives. Tipping the scales at less than 100 pounds, the subs are about four feet in length and are controlled via fiber optic cable that sends the live feed back to the captain of each ship. SeaFoxes can dive to depths of 300 meters and boasts a top speed of six knots. The units are thrust into action from helicopters, small rubber boats and off the rear of minesweepers and are capable of disposing of the aforementioned weapons of both the floating and drifting sort. There is one small catch: the $100,000 submarine destroys itself in the process, making each successful trek a suicide mission of sorts.

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]]> iranmineminesnavypersian gulfPersianGulfSea FoxSeaFoxsubsubmarineunited statesunited states navyUnitedStatesUnitedStatesNavyunmanned subunmanned submarineUnmannedSubUnmannedSubmarineusus navyUsNavywargadget Mon, 16 Jul 2012 12:49:00 -0400 21|20278422 <![CDATA[US Navy LASR research facility builds robots, not ray guns]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/17/us-navy-lasr-research-facility-builds-robots-not-ray-guns/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/17/us-navy-lasr-research-facility-builds-robots-not-ray-guns/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/17/us-navy-lasr-research-facility-builds-robots-not-ray-guns/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments US Navy LASR research facility builds robots, not ray gunsThe US Navy announced a new robotics research facility this week located within the existing Naval Research Laboratory's main site in Washington D.C. The Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research, or LASR, was created to support NRL research in "robotics and autonomous systems of interest to the Navy, the Marine Corps and the Department of Defense," wrote LASR director Alan C. Shultz, mentioning that a familiar sounding autonomous firefighting robot would be among the lab's projects. The new facility is kitted out with a litany of realistic environmental simulation bays, allowing NRL scientists to pit their research against the elements with ease. Researchers will also have access to machine shops stocked with 3D printers and other goodies, a power and energy lab, a sensor lab and what Shultz calls the "world's largest space for real-time motion capture." Sounds great, at least as long as the research projects never get ahold of a certain Navy-funded AI report. Check out Shultz' official statement at the White House blog link below.

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]]> 3D printingAlan C. ShultzAlanC.ShultzIRobotLaboratory for Autonomous Systems ResearchLaboratoryForAutonomousSystemsResearchLASRMarinenavyroboticsrobotsSci/TechUnited States NavyUS NavyUsNavyWhitehouse.gov Sat, 17 Mar 2012 13:24:00 -0400 21|20195483