It struck me today, for all the $$$$$$$ we spend on R.O.V.s that kill and spy....

[DCKit]

it seems we don't have a single one (aside from the search and rescue robots) that is capable of fighting fires or entering radioactive zones to dump water (or borax) on a flaming nuclear core.

Between forest fires, ship fires, tall building fires, the odd nuclear accident and other, various emergencies, shouldn't we have an arsenal capable of doing these things, without putting lives at risk?

Just think of how much more water a helicopter R.O.V. could carry if it weren't designed to carry a pilot or passengers.

We have the technology, but not the will.

[Drale]

1. My local fire department was testing a search and rescue bot

a couple years ago, but I don't know what happened to that.

[daleo]

2. There's more money in killing people

Than saving them.

[DCKit]

3. Of course there is, but it would be the right thing to do.

As a people, we are not all unfeeling and totally lacking in empathy for our fellow humans (or the wildlife that will be affected). Maybe even the "Christian" thing to do, it that's what it takes to sell the idea.

After all, with an accident as bad as this one has the potential to become, it's a matter of self-preservation and National Security.

[daleo]

13. All true

One hopes that your message starts to sink in with decision makers.

[Newest Reality]

4. I think the will, (which is not about the we)

is probably determined by what is most profitable to a few, as we tend to see these days, everywhere.

Now, imagine a world where all the commons are privately owned. You can easily extrapolate what kind of will will be exercised and what might be ignored. The common good would largely be abandoned in America Incorporated. The rest would only be available to those who can afford it, and/or the highest bidders.

The poor, including children and seniors, and the sick or weak would only receive care or assistance if there was a way to generate profit, not because it is important to the structure of a society, (and indicative of its ethics) to take care of those who cannot thrive on their own.

JP Morgan handles the EBT, (food stamps) system and profits from abject poverty and hunger, for instance. Tax payers pay them to administer the system. That's an example of profiting off of our losses. In this phase, there will be money made by vultures as our economic situation decays into permanent destitution for many. Nothing altruistic will come from the Corporate Occupation.

[jdlh8894]

5. Would be nice,however-

Using a RC panel you can't feel updrafts,down drafts,headwinds,tailwinds,storms,thermals,need I go on?

[DCKit]

6. They use motion and acceleration sensors to automatically compensate.

Much like the Segway or our newer military stealth jets (which can't be flown without computers). Everything is automatically controlled by computer chips once the operator tells it where (s)he wants it to end up.

It's a lot more complicated than a hand-held control box with a joystick and, if it weren't, the whole spying/killing R.O.V. thing would've been a massive failure from the get-go. And by massive failure, I mean crashes, not just the civilian casualties.

[jdlh8894]

7. But can they say"Oh S##t!" when

they come out of a cloud cover after a downdraft and the Rockies are a 1000 feet
away and 300 feet above? :evilgrin:

[DCKit]

9. That program is not yet available. Please make another selection. nt

[jdlh8894]

11. Don't think there's an app for that.(yet) n/t

[Ptah]

8. CBS News: "U.S. to send drones over damaged nuke plant"

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503543_162-20044023-503543.html

(CBS/AP) They've been used in the drug war in Mexico and to help fight the wars in Iraq
and Afghanistan. Now, unmanned U.S. spy planes will be used over Japan to take a closer,
safer look at the damaged Fukushima nuclear complex.

CBS News' Harry Smith reports that the drones are equipped with infrared cameras, which
will allow officials to look inside the complex and find the hot spots where there
might be the most trouble.

Conditions at the plant deteriorated Wednesday, with surging radiation forcing Japan to
order workers to temporarily withdraw from the plant. In response, the U.S. recommended
citizens within 50 miles of it evacuate.

Other countries, including Australia and Germany, have issued more sweeping recommendations
for their citizens, advising them to consider leaving Tokyo and other earthquake-affected areas.
Tokyo, which is about 170 miles from the stricken nuclear complex, reported slightly elevated
radiation levels Tuesday, though Japanese officials said the increase was too small to threaten
the 39 million people in and around the capital.

[DCKit]

10. No doubt, but how many of those drones can drop a tank of water on the burning spent fuel?

I know we have surveillance, bomber and machine-gun equipped flying drones, but where are the ones that put our fires?

[BeFree]

12. Shuttle

Lands without human involvement

We have heavy jets that can take off, fly, and land by radio control

Problem is: No one ever imagined they'd need to fly planes over a smoking nuke plant.

Wait, some did, but they're just hippies.

[daleo]

14. As non-hippie Condeleeza Rice said (on another subject)

Nobody ever imagined...