CALGARY, Alberta, May 3, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- CyLogic Aerospace, the military arm of Cyberhand Technologies and a major military contractor, whose stock is publicly traded under the symbol CYHD.PK, has started developing a prototype of a walking landmine that can reduce collateral damage in anti-terrorism efforts. With Iraqi civilian deaths reportedly up to 38,600 (CNN) since the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003, serious concerns have arisen about collateral damage caused by current weapons and bombs in urban environments.
Both the U.S. Navy and the Air Force are looking at ways to limit casualties to civilians during attacks on terrorist targets in urban areas, thus presenting a challenge for military weapons systems developers. In fact, planned military strikes have been halted and smaller less lethal missiles have replaced larger bombs in an effort to reduce injuries or death to civilians in areas near "strike" zones against terrorists.
The CyLogic Aerospace device can be programmed for specific targets; for example, it can selectively recognize and eliminate non-combatants like children and it would minimize carnage and despair caused by regular landmines. The company says that it is developing a mobile field controller that can coordinate up to 500 miniature "walking landmine" units in real-time hostile conditions.
In early April, one of the most respected newspapers in America noted that the U.S. Air Force had previously focused on constructing bigger military weapons and planes that could reach beyond the front lines and do real damage to an enemy's critical infrastructure. The article went on to say that the Air Force shifted its emphasis to weapons designed to limit damage, as the quick toppling of Saddam Hussein got bogged down by long struggle of battling the rebellion.
"Maybe the days of 'shock and awe' will soon see their end as the military revamps its strategy regarding weapons systems," said Michael Burke of CyLogic Aerospace. "With the help of companies such as ours it is possible to develop new landmine technology that minimizes collateral damage."
More information about the walking landmines can be found on the web at http://www.cylogicaerospace.com.