Posted on 11/15/2012 7:53:28 PM PST by DogByte6RER
U.S. Navy to ditch its dolphin and sea lions in favor of robots
The U.S. Navy's Marine Mammal Program started back in the '60s, and the dolphins and sea lions in it help defend harbors, retrieve sunken equipment and, most dangerously, identify mines for deactivation. By 2017, the Navy wants robots to do all that, instead.
The dolphins and sea lions the Navy uses really pull their weight: they're highly trained, and a team of veterinarians and handlers keep the animals primed and ready to be deployed anywhere in the world. The flip-side to that is that they're also expensive to train and maintain and, unlike a robot, when you lose one, you have to start all over again with a fresh animal. A robot arrives trained right out of the box, and you don't have to worry about its health in said box if you ship it abroad.
So, by 2017, this will be the Navy's new dolphin:
That's the Knifefish by Bluefin Robotics, which can operate continuously underwater for up to 16 hours — a dolphin's stay under the sea is measured in minutes before one needs to breathe. Like a dolphin, however, the Knifefish will use sonar to hunt for mines. The Knifefish could be joined by other 'bots, too — the Navy is purchasing a German-made underwater robotic vehicle to perform similar tasks — and while the dolphins and sea lions are out, divers will work alongside the robots on missions.
Don't bust out the tissues yet, though. According to the BBC, the Navy indicated that "there may still be some specialized missions where sea mammals are needed past 2017." Like what, you ask? Well, maybe this. (But probably not.)
"Because why not attach pistols to dolphins' heads"
Robot Dolphin ... "When you come to a fork in the road, take it." - Yogi Berra
In Obama’s failed economy, even the dolphins and sea lions lose their jobs.
“Because why not attach pistols to dolphins’ heads”
http://dvice.com/archives/2012/10/because-why-not.php
I was just going to say that Obama is going to Deep Six the Dolphins. In fact, he’ll probably Deep Six the entire Navy if given the opportunity.
“So long, and ‘you’re welcome’ for all the fish...”
sorry but, other than not having to feed and take care of them like live animals, i doubt they can do the job faster let alone better than the seals an dolphins guided from above they will never be able to make snap decisions as to speed and angles of contact like their live counterparts can
I saw a re-run of Robot Jox on cable a few weeks back. Just allow other countries to have their own robots and duke it out for lands.
Somehow,I doubt these robots will be less expensive & smarter than their animal counterparts...
That could be true, but they'll never be as cute & fun as dolphins & seals.
Also, the robots need “artificial intelligence” to “think” and “adapt” to any and all situations, we are not quite there yet. Despite the broo-ha-ha over the driverless cars from Google, we are not ready for it yet.
Take Obama voters, attach “frickin’ lasers” to their heads, and...never mind, they’re not as smart as dolphins, and the Navy already has robots.
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