The LANdroids are coming: Roomba maker to build networking
robots for soldiers  A while back we told you about the
LANdroids — tiny remote-control machines designed to extend
wireless networks on battlefields. Now those roving robots is a
step closer to reality, as the Pentagon has contracted with
iRobot Corp. (the guys who make the Roomba) to develop them.
Rather than actually go into harms' way, the LANdroids are
supposed to position themselves to serve as repeaters in a local
wireless network, creating a LAN that any friendly war-fighters
in the vicinity can log into to get the big picture.  As well as
being smart enough to move down a street while avoiding
obstacles, they are intended to be small enough for a soldier to
carry several, cheap enough to be disposable (there's shooting
going on, remember?) and tough enough for a harried solder to
simply drop or throw (a requirement that's also related to the
fact that there's shooting going on). Though they haven't been
designed yet, the LANdroids will probab