INTERESTING FACT
DOLPHINS IN THE NAVY : PHYSICS IN REAL WORLD EXAMPLES
A U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program dolphin named KDog, wearing a locating pinger, performed mine clearance work in the Persian Gulf during the Iraq War.
(image from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_dolphin)
The Marine's mammal program began in the 1960's, hoping to mimic dolphin swimming speeds in their submarines along with better sonar. (The program also included seals and beluga whales.) The Navy soon developed new ideas such as using dolphins to locate underwater mines, and then place a marker for Navy personnel to find it. Dolphins were also trained to swim near boats and protect the vessel from swimmers underwater whom sought to place explosives on the bottom or sides.
On a minor note, dolphins were also used to help construction by divers, handing them tools and nails.
The dolphins also sought out lost items on the ocean floor.
While dolphins were never trained to kill humans (or so claimed), they were known to be of great use in exploring the ocean and keeping vessels safe.
(image from http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/140679-us-navy-finally-starts-replacing-killer-dolphins-with-mine-hunting-knifefish-drones)
The program was the biggest during the Cold War, with the Soviet Union employing it's own control-the-seas-program. In the 1990's, however, the Cold War ended and cutbacks were made which meant about 30 dolphins were retired.
Interestingly, after the program cut, dolphins trained for the Soviet Union were chosen to be used in therapy for autistic and emotionally disturbed children.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS SUBJECT VISIT http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/whales/etc/navycron.html
DOLPHINS IN THE NAVY : PHYSICS IN REAL WORLD EXAMPLES
A U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program dolphin named KDog, wearing a locating pinger, performed mine clearance work in the Persian Gulf during the Iraq War.
(image from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_dolphin)
The Marine's mammal program began in the 1960's, hoping to mimic dolphin swimming speeds in their submarines along with better sonar. (The program also included seals and beluga whales.) The Navy soon developed new ideas such as using dolphins to locate underwater mines, and then place a marker for Navy personnel to find it. Dolphins were also trained to swim near boats and protect the vessel from swimmers underwater whom sought to place explosives on the bottom or sides.
On a minor note, dolphins were also used to help construction by divers, handing them tools and nails.
The dolphins also sought out lost items on the ocean floor.
While dolphins were never trained to kill humans (or so claimed), they were known to be of great use in exploring the ocean and keeping vessels safe.
(image from http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/140679-us-navy-finally-starts-replacing-killer-dolphins-with-mine-hunting-knifefish-drones)
The program was the biggest during the Cold War, with the Soviet Union employing it's own control-the-seas-program. In the 1990's, however, the Cold War ended and cutbacks were made which meant about 30 dolphins were retired.
Interestingly, after the program cut, dolphins trained for the Soviet Union were chosen to be used in therapy for autistic and emotionally disturbed children.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS SUBJECT VISIT http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/whales/etc/navycron.html
Here are some fun
links here on the bottom. If you want to know more about
dolphins click on the links. (Or if you want to see some
more awesome dolphin photos for that matter.)
