Comments on: Flying robot makes 3D map of building's interior http://boingboing.net/2012/07/09/flying-robot-makes-3d-map-of-b.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:59:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Mick Maus http://boingboing.net/2012/07/09/flying-robot-makes-3d-map-of-b.html#comment-1474221 Mick Maus Wed, 11 Jul 2012 18:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=170250#comment-1474221 As the two commenters under you have noted, the main uses are google continuing it's massive spy campaign and obvious military applications. So, I ask again, 'Is there a practical [not-bad-for-humans] application for this?' As the two commenters under you have noted, the main uses are google continuing it’s massive spy campaign and obvious military applications. So, I ask again, ‘Is there a practical [not-bad-for-humans] application for this?’

]]> By: Sigmund_Jung http://boingboing.net/2012/07/09/flying-robot-makes-3d-map-of-b.html#comment-1472744 Sigmund_Jung Tue, 10 Jul 2012 15:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=170250#comment-1472744 That's a movie you hate a little bit more every day. Damn you Lindelof (and Scott for being a pussy) That’s a movie you hate a little bit more every day. Damn you Lindelof (and Scott for being a pussy)

]]> By: David Carroll http://boingboing.net/2012/07/09/flying-robot-makes-3d-map-of-b.html#comment-1472530 David Carroll Tue, 10 Jul 2012 10:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=170250#comment-1472530 I'm ashamed to say my first thought was: This would be perfect for shooting LipDub videos.  ;( I’m ashamed to say my first thought was: This would be perfect for shooting LipDub videos.  ;(

]]> By: Lemoutan http://boingboing.net/2012/07/09/flying-robot-makes-3d-map-of-b.html#comment-1472520 Lemoutan Tue, 10 Jul 2012 10:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=170250#comment-1472520 Now we await the movie where the plot device for the escapade is fooling the mapping drone with a simulated alternate environment. Now we await the movie where the plot device for the escapade is fooling the mapping drone with a simulated alternate environment.

]]> By: cfuse http://boingboing.net/2012/07/09/flying-robot-makes-3d-map-of-b.html#comment-1472505 cfuse Tue, 10 Jul 2012 09:38:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=170250#comment-1472505 3D data for Google maps to building level including interiors for the entire world. 3D data for Google maps to building level including interiors for the entire world.

]]> By: ackpht http://boingboing.net/2012/07/09/flying-robot-makes-3d-map-of-b.html#comment-1472484 ackpht Tue, 10 Jul 2012 08:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=170250#comment-1472484  Lots of applications, particularly if the device can be further miniaturized and quieted in the future, which is a pretty good bet. Two big trends in military tech development are tools for urban warfare and precision-guided (as in: under 1  meter targeting error) weapons that enable the use of the smaller warheads that loitering UAVs can carry. Locate the specific room  that the baddies are in, and if there's an exterior window, that's where you put the laser designator. If there are no windows, just knowing the specific XYZ coordinates will assist in selecting and targeting the appropriate weapon. A sufficiently small device, upon encountering a closed door, can just park unobserved and wait for it to open. Accumulating a map of the building interior/contents over time, it can then fly to a relay point to offload the data. Even if you're not bird-dogging for a Reaper, I can see these being very useful for law enforcement and emergency response.  Lots of applications, particularly if the device can be further miniaturized and quieted in the future, which is a pretty good bet. Two big trends in military tech development are tools for urban warfare and precision-guided (as in: under 1  meter targeting error) weapons that enable the use of the smaller warheads that loitering UAVs can carry. Locate the specific room  that the baddies are in, and if there’s an exterior window, that’s where you put the laser designator. If there are no windows, just knowing the specific XYZ coordinates will assist in selecting and targeting the appropriate weapon.

A sufficiently small device, upon encountering a closed door, can just park unobserved and wait for it to open. Accumulating a map of the building interior/contents over time, it can then fly to a relay point to offload the data.

Even if you’re not bird-dogging for a Reaper, I can see these being very useful for law enforcement and emergency response.

]]> By: TimmoWarner http://boingboing.net/2012/07/09/flying-robot-makes-3d-map-of-b.html#comment-1472432 TimmoWarner Tue, 10 Jul 2012 06:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=170250#comment-1472432 Speak up! Speak up!

]]> By: SoItBegins http://boingboing.net/2012/07/09/flying-robot-makes-3d-map-of-b.html#comment-1472418 SoItBegins Tue, 10 Jul 2012 05:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=170250#comment-1472418 Looks like tomorrow's hottest piece of security tech is going to be the butterfly net. Looks like tomorrow’s hottest piece of security tech is going to be the butterfly net.

]]> By: GawdDamb http://boingboing.net/2012/07/09/flying-robot-makes-3d-map-of-b.html#comment-1472318 GawdDamb Tue, 10 Jul 2012 04:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=170250#comment-1472318 Interesting. I can't think of a practical purpose for it off the top of my head. It's not stealthy. Usually you can get layouts of buildings from city planning ect. ect. Maybe if you had to map an underground tunnel system? hm Interesting. I can’t think of a practical purpose for it off the top of my head. It’s not stealthy. Usually you can get layouts of buildings from city planning ect. ect. Maybe if you had to map an underground tunnel system? hm

]]> By: JPW http://boingboing.net/2012/07/09/flying-robot-makes-3d-map-of-b.html#comment-1472268 JPW Tue, 10 Jul 2012 03:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=170250#comment-1472268 Wouldn't a blimp be somewhat more, um, discreet? Wouldn’t a blimp be somewhat more, um, discreet?

]]> By: bcsizemo http://boingboing.net/2012/07/09/flying-robot-makes-3d-map-of-b.html#comment-1472248 bcsizemo Tue, 10 Jul 2012 03:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=170250#comment-1472248 But, but... I thought I had a reasonable explanation but it kind of feel apart when you realize they communicate with the captain in the middle of the storm. But boy, those were some nifty special effects. But, but…

I thought I had a reasonable explanation but it kind of feel apart when you realize they communicate with the captain in the middle of the storm.

But boy, those were some nifty special effects.

]]> By: eviladrian http://boingboing.net/2012/07/09/flying-robot-makes-3d-map-of-b.html#comment-1472234 eviladrian Tue, 10 Jul 2012 02:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=170250#comment-1472234 But the guy running it still manages to get lost within 15 minutes! But the guy running it still manages to get lost within 15 minutes!

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