Autonomous Oceanic Modules Could Self-Assemble Into Pirate-Fighting Bases, Like Legos

How would you prevent someone from getting to one of these "autonomous" cargo boxes and loading it into the "back of the truck" so to speak and take it home and gain access to whatever goodies are inside? Highly sensitive comm equipment found normally within C3 systems are usually kept safe under lock and key, lest the enemy gain access to them.

to rpenri
the answer to your question is guns.

They have been talking about things like this for years if not decades. In the past the idea was to use barges towed to the target location which makes more sense to me then shipping containers. In either case I doubt this will ever be built.

lan1108

Yeah, I doubt it'll be smart enough to differentiate between a simple fishing vessel that has gotten too close and an armed skiff with pirates on board.

Just because there are guns on it, doesn't mean it's invulnerable. What about a diver swimming under the ocean and surreptitiously climbing on board? Is the thing going to be programmed to shoot and kill any marine life that gets too close? Cuz I doubt it's smart enough to tell the difference between a diver and a seal or a dolphin.

It's an idiotic idea.

Headline in the news:

"Pirates steal billions of dollars worth of military hardware and communications systems that were apparently dropped off in the middle of the ocean with no one watching it!"

"Pirates sell stolen military hardware to Taliban and al-Qaeda at discount prices because apparently military has left more unsecured cargo containers of their stuff just floating in the middle of the ocean!"

Fairly simple idea that you build a floating base to be operated by Sailors and Marines (a non-mobile aircraft carrier) to support drone patrols, manned patrols, and even Harrier-type aircraft.

The sea-based FOB would have it's own security measures (sensors, patrols, etc.).

If you look at war costs at $1M per Soldier/year, fuel is one of the largest costs. That is why you're seeing the investment in energy-efficient FOBs .... To reduce the logistical tail in a war with external supply lines.

The same CONEX-based FOB with tailored modules by function is equally applicable to land forces. The CONEX revolution reduced supply chain overhead by 90% and now we're seeing the 2nd-3rd-4th order effects of the concept on portable manufacturing, housing, emergency services, etc.

Isn't this like stealing a nice, big tracking beacon? I mean, unless they can get close with a jamming signal then they're just broadcasting their location to every itching trigger finger in the nearby ocean.

@rpenri The article said they self assemble not that they are run by robots for robot soldiers with no human intervention. They are dropped of by cargo ships with PEOPLE on them. People have opposable digits and the cranial capacity to operate a firearm......unlike you.