New Robots Hunt Pirates by Sea

mattnyc99 writes "PopularMechanics.com takes a peek into the growing world of high-tech piracy on the open seas, which the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard are looking to cut off by investing in a new fleet of superfast, gun-mounted unmanned surface vessels (USVs). From the article: "The Interceptor is available now. But the USV market is just getting started: Two months ago, British defense firm Qinetiq debuted its own robotic vessel, the jetski-size Sentry. Among its potential duties is intruder investigation, which could include scouting out unidentified boats, along the lines of the raft that detonated alongside the USS Cole in Yemen, as well as offering a first look at a possible pirate-controlled vessel.""

Not piracy

[loshwomp]

Remember, it's not piracy, it's "unauthorized copying". Oh, wait...

Robot pirate hunters?

[Guido del Confuso]

All hail our robotic sea ninja overlords!

Global Warming

[Nefarious Wheel]

Arrr, to be sure, this be underwritten by His Noodley Spaghettiness himself. Robots. Pirates. All hail the touch of His Noodly Jetski!

Ooh arrr, what be a Jetski anyway? Russian Hanna-Barbera futurist?

Pirate Dread

[Anonymous Coward]

"We are the Dread Pirate Robots. There will be no survivors."

If only we had a remotely-operated wheelbarrow... That would be something!

apologies to spongebob

[shineyboy]

Who hunts down pirates on the high seas?
ROBOT GUNBOATS!
Dangerous and deadly and fatal they be!
ROBOT GUNBOATS!
If nautical mercy is something you wish,
ROBOT GUNBOATS!
Then put up your hands or sleep with the fish!
ROBOT GUNBOATS!

Re:Not piracy

[loshwomp]

It's not piracy, it's unauthorized crimes.

Wait, the crimes are unauthorized? Are you trying to confuse me?

As the old saying goes:

[Anonymous Coward]

int C = 1

if ( by land ) {
    return C;
}
else
    return ++C;
}

Is it bad if...

[ls -la]

... my first thought is, "The RIAA is going too far this time."

Re:Uh, wha...?

[dwater]

I noticed that too. I took it as emphasis on which part of the vehicle is dominant.

I mean, the boat part isn't so important, so long as it has a massive gun. Right?

N4v33 Pw0n3d

[bigattichouse]

dah leet pirates wit millions of $$$ will h4xor your unmanned vessels. duh. It will work for a while, and then it will just escalate the stakes. And when you have limitless manual labor, you can afford to send out fishermen that blow up the unmanned vessels. (by holding their family hostage). "Don't mind me, I'm just fishing, see ya later... smile and wave" (boom).

The next step in evolution

[glittalogik]

It's time. The days of zombie PCs are numbered. The future is...

Zombie robot pirates!

Do you realise just how much more awesome the world is about to become?

Re:Pirate Dread

[glittalogik]

Can we have a mod for +6 You Just Took A Part Of My Childhood And Made It Awesome?

Re:Keep it a Secret

[Cassius Corodes]

Excellent, my stocks in testosterone laced leather froo-froos are going to go thru the roof!

Re:Keep it a Secret

[daeg]

Oh, sorry. That was me buying my annual supply causing artificial inflation for the current quarter. Sorry.

Re:A tragic error in scale...

[linzeal]

They will make them when the average American hits 1000 lbs. I presume this will happen somewhere in Michigan. There will be a cup holder and a sausage dispenser.

Re:More than likely the little ships will get pira

[Instine]

Its allright. I'm sure they'll listen to Reason.

Robot Pirate Island

[ArrantPrac]

"This plaque is to commemorate the brave pirates who gave their lives to keep this box safe from the Robot Menace. Lest we forget them..."

Popular Mechanics?

[Hoi Polloi]

I'm still waiting for the flying cars Popular Mechanics promised me in 1950, and 1951, and 1952...