Gravity Monkey : Jason Uechi

Sticky GPS for Car Chases
from: stuff to see or savor

From Wired "Cops Test Cannon That Fires Sticky GPS Beacons at Fleeing Cars":

The gizmo, called the StarChase Pursuit Management System, fires sticky GPS transmitters from compressed-air cannons mounted in the front grill of a police cruiser. A backlit control panel allows officers to arm the capsule and launch it at their target; once the projectile is attached to the fleeing vehicle, it starts feeding real-time location data to police HQ over a cellular network. This lets cops fall back and tail the suspect covertly, avoiding dangerous chases.

So utterly Batman.

posted September 28, 2007 01:40 PM by jason [permalink]

"If you're not cheatin, you're not trying"
from: bottom of the pile

I feel sick.

(pic: Suzy Allman for The New York Times)

Update (9.14.2007): Well, now it's over and I have to say I agree with the King.

posted September 11, 2007 09:15 PM by jason [permalink]

Robot Killers
from: stuff to see or savor

Wired Blog Danger Room covers the arrival of the robotic soldiers in the streets of Iraq:

Robots have been roaming the streets of Iraq, since shortly after the war began. Now, for the first time -- the first time in any warzone -- the machines are carrying guns.
After years of development, three "special weapons observation remote reconnaissance direct action system" (SWORDS) robots have deployed to Iraq, armed with M249 machine guns. The 'bots "haven't fired their weapons yet," Michael Zecca, the SWORDS program manager, tells DANGER ROOM. "But that'll be happening soon."

Commenter Mike sums it up best: "Specially made for those causes that are worth killing for but not worth dying for." Indeed.

Link

posted August 3, 2007 07:58 AM by jason [permalink]