Researchers at the University of Magdeburg-Stendal in Germany are developing a giant robotic fire-fighting beetle intended to autonomously roam the forests in search of fire. On patrol the OLE beetle would use infrared and biosensors to detect fires in their early stages and potentially extinguish them before they get out of hand. The OLE is designed from the pill bug, an insect belonging to the centipede family, and like the centipede the OLE can roll up into a ball and retract its six legs into its hard ceramic-fiber heat-resistant shell when danger threatens to protect its sensitive electronic components.
Can you imagine this thing malfunctioning and laying the smack down on some thoroughly disoriented hunter? Let's hope the OLE packs a webcam in addition to infrared sensors.
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And a recording that says, "Don't shoot! I'm from the government!" (On second thought....
--W.M. Bear
: )
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