Navy has some clever ideas for future robots

While the Navy has not been as gung-ho about robots as the Army and Air Force, it certainly forsees a greater role for robots in its future capabilities, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead said May 17 at the Ocean Tech Expo in Newport, R.I.

Roughead, who is scheduled to retire in September, envisions a future where some robotic subs will carry weapons and others will be weapons themselves, similar to directed robotic torpedoes, reports Spencer Ackerman at Wired’s Danger Room blog.

It is worth noting that the Navy has made great strides with robotic aircraft, such as the long-range Broad Area Maritime Surveillance unmanned aircraft system, scheduled to begin operating in 2015, and also the Fire Scout, an unmanned helicopter, which is now in use.