Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Robopocalypse Report #12: Attacking the Drones, Hacking the Car and the WTF Econonmy of the Internet of Compromised Things

Last time we dodged having the drone in the report.  This time, however, the drone wins the internet. The largest contingent of of drone news is about how to kill them though!



The US Navy practiced killing drones from helicopters during its Black Dart exercises (seen above).  

Boeing also demonstrated its 'man portable' Compact Laser Weapon System (2 kw) to shoot down a drone. 

Think tanks are starting to wonder what it means to operate in the era of persistent UAV surveillance.  

For us civvies, Popular Mechanics has an article on what to do to shoot down a drone.  Shotguns are best but supersoakers (if you can hit the drone) and sling shots work pretty well, too.  However, BB and paintball guns do not.

The drone which was shot down in Kentucky apparently only hovered with 22 seconds over the property before the owner took a shotgun to it.  There was a video out to 'prove' this, but the owner has changed the viewing to private.



Even mother nature has got it in for the drones!

The European Regions Airlines Association has continued to call for more regulation of drones in European airspace.

Shifting away from the anxiety sectors of drones, Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross just dropped a $1 million investment in the Drone Racing League.

Switching to the self driving car, we don't have articles which deal directly with the technology iself, but ones which will act in a supporting role.   Or terrify us.  Hackers remotely cut the brakes on a Corvette and the Brits are considering testing technologies which will allow electric cars to charge while driving on the highway.  The fear from the hackers and self driving cars is pretty obvious.  The promise of robo taxis which recharge as they drive around town, never having a down time to charge, is exciting.



A George Washington University professor is working on robo flippers based on sea lions. 

Microsoft, those traitors! has helped develop an AI able to spot jokes in cartoons.

Jeff Atwood writes about the thing which actually scares me more than the Robopocalypse, the internet of things, more specifically The Internet of Compromised Things.

Tim O'Reilly worries about dealing with the Robopocalypse in his article called "The WTF Economy."




No comments: