Unmanned Aircraft Clustered via Bluetooth 189
An anonymous reader writes "Researchers at the University of Essex are using Linux and tiny embedded computer modules to build fleets of unmanned aircraft that fly in flocking formations like birds, while performing parallel, distributed computing tasks using Bluetooth-connected Linux clustering software. The Gridswarm project includes model trainers that can fly 120mph, while a parallel Ultraswarm project uses co-axial helicopters. A prototype of the later is believed to the world's smallest flying web server. The aircraft will run Linux on embedded computing modules from Gumstix."
Why not use Mac OS X? (Score:0, Funny)
Cooooooool. (Score:5, Funny)
There's competition? (Score:5, Funny)
There's competition for that title? Just how many flying web servers are there? (IIS boxes falling out of high office windows after being thrown do not count.)
Uh oh. (Score:2, Funny)
Oh great, both at once (Score:5, Funny)
MY BRAIN CAN'T COPE!
Re:Cooooooool. (Score:2, Funny)
Those pesky birds, I'll have to fight fire with (Score:1, Funny)
Build Your Own Bluetooth Sniper Rifle [slashdot.org]
They just gave "shutdown" a whole new meaning :) (Score:5, Funny)
Re:There's competition? (Score:3, Funny)
If you need a cluster of machines to work in paralell for greater number-crunching power, why not by a big server rack and throw in a bunch of 1U sized machines?
I mean, it's cool for the "wow, check this out" factor....but...real life aplications? Massively Paralell UAVs of DOOM?
I see skynet just got it flying drones (Score:1, Funny)
drone1: incoming slashdot effect!
drone2: take offensive action!
drone3-10: wi-fi targets aquired
??????
boom.
We know they run linux (Score:1, Funny)
Imagine a Windows 2003 server farm of flying cluster planes.
Re:Oh great, both at once (Score:4, Funny)
Add a way for them to deal death by dispensing scalding grits and manufacture them in Soviet Russia and finally justice can be served!
Re:Flcoking Behavior (Score:2, Funny)
However, that isn't quite as wild as watching it done with planes, I'm betting.
Bullet with Beowulf Wings (Score:3, Funny)
Also, visualize a bombsquad guy in all that padding chasing these things with a net.
Did somebody say webserver? (Score:1, Funny)
It would be interesting to follow the effects of slashdotting on that one, quick somebody post a link!
Can you overclock this? (Score:4, Funny)
Probably work better in england, here in my part of Texas the red tailed hawks would probably take 'em down.
Post a link to... (Score:2, Funny)
and let's crash the focker.
this story has everything.... (Score:4, Funny)
Bluetooth Season (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Oh great, both at once (Score:1, Funny)
So... (Score:1, Funny)
Re:There's competition? (Score:2, Funny)
A prototype of the later is believed to the world's smallest flying web server.
Support: 'The sites gonna be down for a while, the servers crashed.'
User: 'Dos attack or something?'
Support: 'No. It crashed literally.....into a tree'
Well, against the slashdot effect .. (Score:5, Funny)
You know, I wonder WHY does one NEED a flying webserver that's small?
Obviously, when a webserver detects the slashdot effect, it will signal the UWWWWCOM, which will quickly deploy a flock of webservers towards the site to serve webpages.Then, when the slashdot effect cools off, the flying webservers can be redeployed as necessary, maybe to provide entertainment to soldiers in Iraq.
A very efficient use of resources, isn't it?
Where to begin? (Score:4, Funny)
But penguins cannot fly!
Great! Now we can re-shoot Hitchcock's "The Birds" with the [RI|MP]AA as the stars!
Now I'll have to wash all those core dumps off my car!
SQUAWCK! We are the Borg. SQUAWCK! Resistance is futile! SQUAWCK! 4 of 99 wants a cracker! SQUAWCK!
A robotic parrot/web server is the perfect gift for a data pirate - when will ThinkGeek carry them?
Do they use RFC 1149 [faqs.org]?
Re:Bluetooth Season (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Flcoking Behavior (Score:3, Funny)