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2006-07-12 Science & Technology

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Posted by Steve 2006-07-12 09:33|| || Front Page|| [11137 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 I...consider...this...a...war crime!
And a personal insult!

Posted by John Fn Kerry 2006-07-12 09:57|| 2006-07-12 09:57|| Front Page Top

#2 Wasps ... Why do they hate us?

Posted by Lancasters Over Dresden 2006-07-12 10:02|| http://www.michaelcalderonscall.com/HomePage.asp]">[http://www.michaelcalderonscall.com/HomePage.asp] 2006-07-12 10:02|| Front Page Top

#3 How long till some clever grunt sticks a 4-oz C$ charge in there and rigs a detonator button?

Posted by mojo">mojo 2006-07-12 10:15|| 2006-07-12 10:15|| Front Page Top

#4 Note to all Pacifists: Take those Game Boys away from your kids...they're training for combat.

Posted by GK 2006-07-12 10:17|| 2006-07-12 10:17|| Front Page Top

#5 The Doors foretold this development years ago...

Artist: The Doors
Album: The Very Best of the Doors
Title: The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat)
Authors: Densmore/K/M/M

Posted by Captain America 2006-07-12 10:46|| 2006-07-12 10:46|| Front Page Top

#6 I thought us W A S P's were bad? Now we are politically correct on a good weapon to help the soldiers. I feel better.

Posted by plainslow 2006-07-12 11:04|| 2006-07-12 11:04|| Front Page Top

#7 So I guess my frisbee weapon is out the window, eh ?

Posted by wxjames 2006-07-12 11:24|| 2006-07-12 11:24|| Front Page Top

#8 Tres cool. "Wasp MAV"

Posted by jay-dubya">jay-dubya 2006-07-12 11:28|| www.technochitlins.com]">[www.technochitlins.com] 2006-07-12 11:28|| Front Page Top

#9 Cap, sorry about the bad link. Try http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/vehicles/wasp-mav-sevenounce-drone-038180.php

Posted by jay-dubya">jay-dubya 2006-07-12 11:29|| www.technochitlins.com]">[www.technochitlins.com] 2006-07-12 11:29|| Front Page Top

#10 I can't wait for the Hornet ~~and then the flying Essex.~~

Posted by 6 2006-07-12 11:33|| 2006-07-12 11:33|| Front Page Top

#11 wxjames: you know that years ago, they tried making a frisbee-like explosive throwing weapon? That didn't work out, so they went down the list from lacrosse sticks to jai alai scoops to baseball grenades. They never did come up with anything very satisfactory.

Posted by Anonymoose 2006-07-12 12:57|| 2006-07-12 12:57|| Front Page Top

#12 why not get reg hand controlled airplanes and put a small cameram on them? wouldn't it be alot cheaper

Posted by Greamp Elmavinter1163 2006-07-12 13:31|| 2006-07-12 13:31|| Front Page Top

#13 Wonder if Estes still has the jibs for the CineRoc.

Posted by 6 2006-07-12 16:07|| 2006-07-12 16:07|| Front Page Top

#14 why not get reg hand controlled airplanes and put a small cameram on them? wouldn't it be alot cheaper

That's what this thing is, basicaly. Only it is the Millspec version.

Without going into a long, complicated discussion of why millspec is a good and necessary thing, you may rest assured that these drones are as cheap as we can make them. The hand controller and related bits, OTOH, are veddy 'spensive.

Having used the raven (army) version myself, these small drones will wind up being one of the most useful bits of gear to come out of this war. I just hope they don't get too gold plated to use.

Posted by N guard 2006-07-12 16:10|| 2006-07-12 16:10|| Front Page Top

#15 why not get reg hand controlled airplanes and put a small cameram on them? wouldn't it be alot cheaper

Let's say you get 20 flights from a Wasp. That's probably a safe average -- some will be lost earlier, some will break earlier, and some will fly as long as a B-52. That comes out to $500 a flight.

A small RC helicopter is about $200 -- no camera, no controller with integrated screen. Decent cameras are expensive; small decent cameras are even more expensive.

Doesn't seem too expensive, considering the improvement in capabilities it gives.

Posted by Robert Crawford">Robert Crawford 2006-07-12 17:37|| http://www.kloognome.com/]">[http://www.kloognome.com/] 2006-07-12 17:37|| Front Page Top

#16 "A small RC helicopter is about $200..."

Have YOU, ever flown a R/C Hellicopter? There is a really, really steep learning curve, and even decent pilots crack them up from time to time.

I think the wasp is the way to go.

-M

Posted by Manolo 2006-07-12 22:11|| 2006-07-12 22:11|| Front Page Top

#17 er...Helicopter...

Posted by Manolo 2006-07-12 22:12|| 2006-07-12 22:12|| Front Page Top

#18 I'd still appreciate a spooky or warthog over my shoulder... :-)

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2006-07-12 22:18|| 2006-07-12 22:18|| Front Page Top

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