College engineering students are flying their high-tech creations this week in the 14th Annual International Aerial Robotics Competition, paving the way for a new generation of surveillance gear that could help soldiers during urban warfare. Their aircraft resemble radio-controlled model airplanes and helicopters that hobbyists fly for amusement, but the ones buzzing around an urban warfare training center at Fort Benning are equipped with Global Positioning receivers, gyro compasses and computers that allow them to fly without any human intervention. This year's competition was hosted by the Soldier Battle Laboratory at Fort Benning, which develops and tests new high-tech weapons for soldiers. "It gives us an opportunity to see the cutting edge," Mike Kennedy, a robotics projects officer at the lab. "These kids are cutting edge. They're doing things the Army can't do yet."
Ten teams, some from as far away as Canada, were represented. Their goal, set several years ago, is to build a robotic plane that can fly 3 kilometers, pick out a symbol on a building, identify all the open windows and doors and then launch a probe that could send video images of the interior to soldiers at a safe distance. The first team to accomplish the mission gets $40,000 in prize money. None of the teams were expected to reach the ultimate goal this year. The Georgia Institute of Technology team has reached the second of four levels last year: flying autonomously for 3 kilometers and identifying open windows and doors. Kennedy said none of the aircraft were expected to launch the video probe this year. "Possibly next year," Kennedy said, holding up his hands with fingers crossed. "A soldier could program the aircraft to fly in, identify a building and launch a probe or some vehicle. And he can see what is inside the building from 3 kilometers away."
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Mike Barnes, a senior robotics engineer at the battle lab, said robotic aircraft have tremendous potential, possibly monitoring traffic and rerouting cars to avoid gridlock, finding missing people and homeland defense. "Right now, there is no one who can do that," he said. "We have bits and pieces, but no one has tied it altogether."
Judges honored the University of Arizona team Wednesday for the best presentation and the most innovative design. Those students were busy Thursday, preparing a backup plane to replace one damaged in a hard landing. "Itâs a robot â just a flying one," said senior Jessica Dooley, 22, of Phoenix, stepping mechanically like a robot and making "err, err, err" sounds.
| In other, unrelated news, the Department of Defense disclosed the existence of a new program called "Skynet" ... |
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