The Preditor is primarily used for surveillance in Afghanistan but can be armed with Hellfire missiles.

The primary mission for the aptly named Reaper is to be a “persistent hunter-killer” drone, the first such device at the Air Force’s disposal.nn

Credit: U.S. Air Force

The MAV uses a ducted-fan system in the circular black housing to perform vertical takeoff and landing maneuvers, in addition to hovering.nn

Credit: Stephen Baack

Robotic aircraft know as unmanned flying vehicles (UAVs) are getting smaller and larger. This small Ornithoper MAV with flapping wings was designed by students at Brigham Young University and is being used for surveillance.nn

Credit: BYU

Northrop Grumman’s X-47A is expected to be able to climb to more than 40,000 feet, to carry 4,500 pounds of equipment and to do everything from intelligence-gathering to time-sensitive targeting and attacks. Due in late 2009, it will also be able to land on an aircraft carrier.

Credit: Northrup Grumman

The veteran Packbot is small enough to fit in a backpack. This small robot has been used extensively in Iraq to perform surveillance duties and most importantly investigate and/or detonate potential bombs – keeping humans out of danger.nn

Credit: iRobot

The Special Weapons Observation Reconnaissance Detection System (SWORDS) is fully armed.nnn

Credit: Foster-Miller Corp.

The Crusher is a 5.5 ton, 6 wheel armed robotic vehicle that’s capable of carrying 8,000 pounds and racing at 26 mph. It has a camera at the end of its 18-foot mast. It can also withstand a mine explosion.nn

Credit: Carnegie Mellon University

iRobot’s Griffon is a Packbot with a propeller in front of it so it can fly.nn

Credit: iRobot

Another robot designed to operate in the desert.nn

Credit: Office of Naval Research

This is the XM1219 Armed Robotic Vehicle (ARV)-Assault-Light (ARV-A-L).nn

Credit: U.S. Army

Ruumba and Packbot maker iRobot has rights to develop an AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle). Seaglider was developed by the Applied Physics Laboratory and the School of Oceanography at the University of Washington in conjunction with the National Science Foundation and the Office of Naval Research, which funded the initial project.nn

Credit: University of Washington

This purpose of this autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), called the Fetch 3.5, is to sense and record various information about the seas. Baltimore-based Prizm Advanced Communication Electronics say it can handle missions up to 30 hours long and can plunge to depths as low as 500 feet. Looks like it might be able to do more.

Credit: Anne Broache/CNET News

The Seahorse is 3 feet in diameter and can be equipped with lethal weapons.nn

Credit: Penn State University

Underwater robots can use solar power. nn

Credit: NOAA