Robots in Afghanistan

Yesterday we posted Gene's photos of making that great Afghan bread. For you science folks, I thought I would inform you that robotic helicopters are now being used in Afghanistan.

The robotic K-Max helicopter shown above is flying re-supply missions in Afghanistan, opening up the era of unmanned logistics.

John Roach writes that robotic helicopters are capable of ferrying 3.5 tons of cargo in a single load are at work supplying NATO troops in Afghanistan.

The helicopter is a Lockheed Martin/Kaman Aerospace K-Max designed for battlefield cargo resupply. Confirmation of its use in Afghanistan means we're now in the age of unmanned logistics.

The technology will put fewer soldiers at risk flying over enemy lines on re-supply missions. That doesn't mean, however, that the military will put the helicopters directly in harm's way.

"Most of the missions will be conducted at night and at higher altitudes," Marine Capt. Caleb Joiner, mission commander, said in a news release. "This will allow us to keep out of small arms range."