Wi-Fi Security Robots? 107
John Hering writes "It was bound to happen.... Security Robots that are "Wi-Fi" enabled and capable of enterprise-grade tasks. Details have emerged about a robotics platform that combines cutting edge security and wireless technologies and is capable of integration with buildings' central heating and cooling systems, security systems, air quality controls, wi-fi networks, and even lighting and power systems to provide valuable building services and emergency back-up. It can even greet guests, guide them to their destinations or lead building tours! Similar projects in the past have pushed these robotics technologies forward and spawned numerous new projects , especially amongst the linux community."
Re:What operating system... (Score:5, Informative)
It's not just the software being Windows or Linux or whatever - its the hardware too. There is a reason NASA had chosen x86 for a lot of its missions - reliability and hardware dependability.
And quite honestly, I find it really unlikely for any of these things to be running anything close to Windows (if they ever wanted, it would be CE, which again is not really a good option). These things would have to be built for realtime apps, coupled with networking capabilitis and the like and would perhaps be happier running something like QNX [qnx.com].
Or ofcourse, customized Linux/*BSD kernels.
And oh, Naval ships do run Windows within the ship - perhaps not the control centers, but still, a significant chunk of the (active and on-duty) Navy does use Windows.
Not particularly breaking news ... (Score:4, Informative)
See
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CC.
Re:What operating system... (Score:3, Informative)
Navy ships do use Windows, but not for any "Mission Critical" systems. Unix is used for all the sensory input type stuff. By law ships are only allowed to use computers as "navigation aids." Computers cannot be used as the primary means of navigation. On a navy ship the Quartermasters still get out their Sextants and "Shoot Stars" and other hevenly bodies every night to check the ships position against what the computers/GPS are telling them.
iRobot and Raytheon (Score:2, Informative)
Here's the link to the Wired article about it [wired.com]
I think it's a valid concern, because you know they will keep developing these things all the way, I have expected it.
There's already enough trouble dealing with human guards and police in the civilian sector if they get incensed or follow illegal orders and go mad dog on you. In strict military terms it's alwas been thus because the objective is to "kill the other guys" basically and any accidents are classed off as "collateral damage". We barely have any sort of reasonable expectation anymore of arguing a differing point of view in the civilian world, exploring what might be a mistake in intent or circumstances, before getting maced, beat or shot, but not with a robot, you won't get that. Binary. Won't really matter which OS it's running because even when it's running "well" it will still be dumb as a rock, they aren't even close to having the intelligence a good guard dog has, let alone a human. But, they are well past "close enough" to make them mobile and armed, a pretty dangerous situation, IMO. They won't wait for AI to equal just the mundane functionality, not when "collateral damage is almost always acceptable" is their over all mindset on achieving objectives. These sorts of robots won't be able to do the critical reasoning necessary to be effective in all cases, and you can bet that there will be a lot of cases of "collateral damage" with them once they are armed and programmed for aggression.
In the military it's a no brainer for them,of course, it's just a smart tank sort of logical progression, various sizes. And predator is getting closer to the concept on the aerial platform, and cruise missiles I think could be classed as almost fully robotic in nature, and are in widespread use now, as are all the other complex "fire and forget" type munitions.