The United States Navy has tested a new unmanned helicopter that can self-navigate to find a location using only an electronic tablet. The helicopter drone can avoid obstacles by itself, so all the pilot has to do is enter the coordinates of the destination.
The United States Navy has tested a new unmanned helicopter that can self-navigate to find a location using only an electronic tablet.
The helicopter drone can avoid obstacles by itself, so all the pilot has to do is enter the coordinates of the destination.
Other drones need someone navigating them at all times, even if the pilot is doing so remotely.
Scientists have been developing the unmanned helicopter under a five year program, costing 100 million dollars.
Rear Admiral Matthew Klunder, who leads the US Navy’s Office of Naval Research said: “With a touch of one button on my handheld, I can direct that helicopter to an unprepared landing site.”
The technology can be used in the field to deliver supplies, or on rescue missions to remote areas.
Other new technology under development at the U.S. Navy is a rail gun that will be able to stop missile attacks using electromagnetic pulses fired from a cannon at eight times the speed of sound.
It can reportedly hit targets over a hundred nautical miles away.
This controversial weapon has been in development for ten years, costing the US government 240 million dollars, and some Congress members even tried to stop the development of the gun in 2011.
