DARPA Wants To Seed the Ocean With Delayed-Action Robot Pods 67
coondoggie writes "This plan sounds a bit like a science fiction scenario where alien devices were planted in the ground thousands of years ago only to be awoken at some predetermined date to destroy the world. Only in this case it's the scientists at Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency who want to develop a system of submersible pods that could reside in the world's oceans (presumably not in anyone's territorial waters) and be activated for any number of applications days, months or even years later."
Re:WTF DARPA? (Score:0, Interesting)
You're rambling. Cell phone in a block of epoxy? Are you friggin' serious? How long does a cell phone battery last? Do you know how far a cell phone signal travels from a tower? Underwater.
Sheesh. No wonder you don't get it.
Re:WTF DARPA? (Score:2, Interesting)
You are totally oblivious.
Cell phones are nothing but low cost & mass produced ARM development kits with WiFi adapters and cellular modems that have had the driver compatibilities hashed out by the manufacturer. The user interface is totally redundant in this application, but I'm sure your next line of questioning is "How are you going to use a touch screen through a block of epoxy!"
Use your imagination because I don't feel obligated to connect the dots for someone who thinks that pointing out cellular comms don't work underwater is anything but blatantly obvious. It's not like applications exist that would allow for the hands-free jack to interface with an acoustic modem.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=re.serialout&hl=en
http://acomms.whoi.edu/umodem/
Seeing as DARPAs intention is obviously to achieve force projection along the coast lines of 3rd world shit holes by deploying their surface vehicles and UAS from stealth buoys, maybe they can mesh network their way close enough to shore or their buddy with an Iridium that can call home for further instructions? You know, that way billion dollar aircraft carriers don't have to leave their dicks hanging in the wind to get blown off by an explosive fishing boats,
http://www.batterypoweronline.com/images/PDFs_articles_whitepaper_appros/Bluefin%20Robotics.pdf
How do I shoot web? Toggling power via an MCU is HARD!
Do you have any other inane commentary to make or are you done talking out of your ass?
Re:Security (Score:4, Interesting)
Maybe a list of one-time pads kept securely in the DoD? I could definetely see value in being able to secure a coastline by sailing around dumping a load of smart mines armed with supercavitating torpedos and advanced sensors with the ability to tell friend from foe. Or even better, send a sub around an enemy's coastline and drop them invisibly, break in case of war. Instant blockade! Given how important control of the ocean is, this could well be an overwhelming advantage.