Since I have been perusing Flickr daily, I have begun to imagine owning my own GERP — GIMP Enhanced Robot Photographer. As one vendor proclaims, “Think of this as the Erector set of the 21st Century.”
You know… the standard, industrial-strength, re-configurable aluminum chassis.
Yes, the one that will elevate the PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) camera to SHP (Standard Human Perspective).
Yes, of course, the all-terain one with GPS with audible / silent alarm. What? Yes, with the redundant transmitter to maintain security in case of wireless Internet problems. After losing a couple of those DARPA prototypes, they learned a lesson.
It means another computer upgrade. Besides full 360 degree, integrated lasar and sonar systems, these new bots interface with Google mapping, which means better dead-reckoning when getting to the photo shoot.
I’m thinking of calling it Hedley.
I’m debating whether to get the low light upgrade.
Note: While GERP is a spoof (as was artoodeefour previously), the development of surveillance robotics that has been underway for quite some time is quite real, relatively speaking.
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[...] on this page are to topics at the Learn about Robots site. Hm, I have been thinking that my robot photojournalist has to be ground based. Maybe not. Dr. Rich Cooper, a professional eng [...]