Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Hacker puts a video cam on an RC truck and saves the lives of 6 soldiers

abcnews.go.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 101 posts

Re: Hacker puts a video cam on an RC truck and saves the lives of 6 soldiers

#21

Post by boredguy8 »

jxcole wrote: post #15
illumin8 wrote: post #5

The funny thing is that if the DoD contracted out to build these, they would end up costing over $1 million each. There are a lot of unique opportunities for startups that are willing to use off the shelf technology and package it in unique ways. Provided, of course, you don't have any ethical qualms about selling technology that might be used for good or evil.

Agree with the first part. However, I think that as long as you were fairly firm that you were only interested in building technology that saved lives (no RC toys with guns on them), I would not feel guilty in the slightest. After all, this truck can't really be used to hurt anyone, just save lives.

It absolutely can be. The XM-7 Spider is basically the same thing, except over secured remote control, and it holds munitions instead of video cameras. It's pretty difficult to build technology that only saves lives.

Re: Hacker puts a video cam on an RC truck and saves the lives of 6 soldiers

#22

Post by rokhayakebe »

Iv wrote: post #9
illumin8 wrote: post #5

The funny thing is that if the DoD contracted out to build these, they would end up costing over $1 million each. There are a lot of unique opportunities for startups that are willing to use off the shelf technology and package it in unique ways. Provided, of course, you don't have any ethical qualms about selling technology that might be used for good or evil.

Actually, if you don't sell it for at least 1M$, you won't get any contract, it doesn't look serious enough. Terrestrial drones were being done during WWII, Russians were remote-controlling full-sized tanks in the 40s, these techs should be obvious by now. I have been working for a defense project about instrumenting some armored vehicles with video cameras and monitors. The project was more than 10 years old when I…

It seems like the truck used in this example costs around 300 usd. If I were a soldier, I think I would not wait for the government to commission a million dollar truck. I would get 3 of these for now.

Re: Hacker puts a video cam on an RC truck and saves the lives of 6 soldiers

#23

Post by rokhayakebe »

Cushman wrote: post #20
Iv wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually, if you don't sell it for at least 1M$, you won't get any contract, it doesn't look serious enough. Terrestrial drones were being done during WWII, Russians were remote-controlling full-sized tanks in the 40s, these techs should be obvious by now. I have been working for a defense project about instrumenting some armored vehicles with video cameras and monitors. The project was more than 10 years old when I…

Let me be the first to say thank god they don't. We should all count our blessings that hackers tend to be peaceful people by nature. Imagine if we were trying to kill each other.

Well who do you think writes software that controls missiles?

Re: Hacker puts a video cam on an RC truck and saves the lives of 6 soldiers

#24

Post by mcantor »

burgerbrain wrote: post #16
mcantor wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why will the comments be pure crap?

I assume he was anticipating anti-military/war discussion.

Well, it's stereotypical for both hackers and hippies to have scruffy facial hair and hygiene problems, so I guess I can see how one might mix them up.

Hackers don't hug their computers, though.

At least, not when anyone else is looking.

Re: Hacker puts a video cam on an RC truck and saves the lives of 6 soldiers

#25

Post by digikata »

Iv wrote: post #9
illumin8 wrote: post #5

The funny thing is that if the DoD contracted out to build these, they would end up costing over $1 million each. There are a lot of unique opportunities for startups that are willing to use off the shelf technology and package it in unique ways. Provided, of course, you don't have any ethical qualms about selling technology that might be used for good or evil.

Actually, if you don't sell it for at least 1M$, you won't get any contract, it doesn't look serious enough. Terrestrial drones were being done during WWII, Russians were remote-controlling full-sized tanks in the 40s, these techs should be obvious by now. I have been working for a defense project about instrumenting some armored vehicles with video cameras and monitors. The project was more than 10 years old when I…

At that point you'll have one. Now try to make it it work through extreme weather - hot, cold, pouring rain, etc. Now make it reliable to shock so you aren't fixing thing every 50 miles or so. Ok, write the reference manuals so that 18yr old mechanics how to install, maintain, replace them. You've got some sharp mechanics there, but you have a few dumb ones too. The manual will involve breaking things down to a painful level. Setup logistics for contracts, replace/repair. Oh now setup a production line to make hundreds or thousands. And, by the way, that production line may or may get shut down after the first order. Or you may get another order for exactly the same thing two years later after the last one rolled off the line.

It shouldn't take 10 years, but it isn't a simple trip into a hackerspace either.

Re: Hacker puts a video cam on an RC truck and saves the lives of 6 soldiers

#26

Post by stonemetal »

jxcole wrote: post #15
illumin8 wrote: post #5

The funny thing is that if the DoD contracted out to build these, they would end up costing over $1 million each. There are a lot of unique opportunities for startups that are willing to use off the shelf technology and package it in unique ways. Provided, of course, you don't have any ethical qualms about selling technology that might be used for good or evil.

Agree with the first part. However, I think that as long as you were fairly firm that you were only interested in building technology that saved lives (no RC toys with guns on them), I would not feel guilty in the slightest. After all, this truck can't really be used to hurt anyone, just save lives.

It could be used to scout targets.

Re: Hacker puts a video cam on an RC truck and saves the lives of 6 soldiers

#27

Post by forgingahead »

Interesting -- I was in the army (Non-US, but allied) years ago, and we were developing a lot of similar technology. RC Cars/Trucks with cameras, guns that shoot around corners, and surveillance balls amongst other things. They were developed for close-quarters combat, clearing rooms, hallways, that sort of thing.

The tech isn't new, but what's interesting I guess is the application they accidentally discovered. Strap a camera on a hardy RC vehicle, and have that be the sweeper in the front of a patrol checking for roadside bombs.

Interesting article, thanks for posting it.

Re: Hacker puts a video cam on an RC truck and saves the lives of 6 soldiers

#28

Post by jerrya »

epochwolf wrote: post #2

It's a good story but I really, really hate auto playing videos. Edit: "video ads" -> "videos" I don't like either one.

Fwiw, I agree with you.

So I wondered why I didn't get an autoplay story, then I realized it's on ABC and last week I had ad block plus create an easy filter to get rid of their videos entirely. As far as I can tell, losing ABC videos is just not a loss, and it leaves a static jpg that ABC presents to browsers that can't do video.

What I've been curious about is can sites tell when someone has started playing a video, but clicked away from their precious video after a second or two?

Re: Hacker puts a video cam on an RC truck and saves the lives of 6 soldiers

#29

Post by erydo »

illumin8 wrote: post #5

The funny thing is that if the DoD contracted out to build these, they would end up costing over $1 million each. There are a lot of unique opportunities for startups that are willing to use off the shelf technology and package it in unique ways. Provided, of course, you don't have any ethical qualms about selling technology that might be used for good or evil.

They'd sell for a high price not necessarily due to price gouging, but because it costs a lot to sell to the military. The overhead of quality control, support, and all of the bureaucracy involved in dealing with a military customer would dwarf the actual per-unit cost.

Re: Hacker puts a video cam on an RC truck and saves the lives of 6 soldiers

#30

Post by dhughes »

I'm surprised the reveres isn't true that small RC planes or land vehicles are not being used as unmanned bomb delivery devices by the Taliban.

If this were to happen I'd guess Libyan rebels would do it since I see a lot of fabrication of weapons by them.

Post reply on HN