Robot Hands From the Sky Descend, Steal Beer

Technology Review has an interesting piece on a Yale team developing a robotic grabber actuated from a helicopter. The Yale Aerial Manipulator, could be used in spots that are difficult for ground robots to get to, such as high, roughly terrained places, or back yards.

It can currently carry objects that weigh up to two kilograms at speeds reaching 130 kilometers an hour. Being that's roughly the weight of a couple grenades, any bets on how long till it's weaponized?

Reaper Squadron Deployed, Let the reaping begin.

AP (Yahoo) is running a report of the deployment of the first squadron of full-fledged hunter-killer drones to Afghanistan and Iraq. To most, these drones represent the natural progression from the Predator drones originally designed for recon and outfitted with Hellfire missiles later in life. The Reaper is, afterall a bigger, badder predator. In addition to the 2 missles the Predator carries this beast can carry another 2 missiles or a pair of 500lb guided bombs.

The pilots, for now, will be sitting in Nevada, and when the next "natural progression" takes place and the pilot becomes a central command and control AI, I suspect the Reapers will be returning home with a new mission.