Robotic Ferret Used To Fight Smugglers 54
Scientists at the University of Sheffield have created a device dubbed the "cargo-screening ferret" that is able to detect drugs, weapons, and even illegal immigrants concealed in cargo containers. The 30cm-long robot is equipped with tiny sensors that are more sensitive than any currently employed in conventional cargo scanners. The ferret will attach itself magnetically to the inside of a cargo container and sweep it for contraband, while sending a steady stream of information back to its controller. Project leader Dr Tony Dodd said, "It's essential we develop something which is simple to operate and which border agents can have total confidence in. The ferret will be able to drop small probes down through the cargo and so pinpoint exactly where contraband is concealed."
Mandatory post. (Score:1, Funny)
I, for one, welcome our new robotic ferret overlords.
yep it will be great.. (Score:3, Funny)
for ferreting out those pesky illegal immigrants
Smugglers deploy countermeasure (Score:5, Funny)
Robot ferret stymied by robot Bucky Katt.
scale it down (Score:5, Funny)
That's all well and good until... (Score:4, Funny)
one by one your cargo containers end up missing, you chalk it up to random
coincidence every so often, then one day while doing inventory you find a
horde of socks^H^H^H^H^H^ *cargo* stuffed away in a cubby hole of your shipyard.
Re:scale it down (Score:5, Funny)
Great news! We all remember what a fiasco... (Score:1, Funny)
...the robotic gerbil was!
Robot Ferrets? (Score:4, Funny)
Didn't they open for Led Zeppelin back in '75?
Re:So how long (Score:3, Funny)
So if you're a dog that relies on sniffing out cargo containers, you have about five years to look for other work.
So the "John Henry" story of the 21st century will be between a dog and a robot ferret?
Mos Eisley Take 2 (Score:4, Funny)
Greedo: Jabba's through with you. He has no use for smugglers who drop their shipments at the first sign of an electronic ferret.
Re:rat thing in the hold! (Score:4, Funny)
With probes that snoot and ferrule claws!
Beware the cargo rats, and shun
Their infradigious smugseeking maws!"
It's a paper launch (Score:2, Funny)
"He said working prototypes of the cargo-screening ferret could be ready for testing within two years, with potential deployment within around five years."
Seems sort of early to be claiming it's been created...
Pants (Score:3, Funny)
Robot Gerbils? (Score:2, Funny)