[Newspoetry] Missiles

[Robert Porter]

The Second in a series of dispatches from expatriot newspoet Newton
Bigelow--


Missile Test Is 1 for 2

Dateline Madrid: (Associated Poets) ‹ The Pentagon reported partial success
today in a test of the Patriot missile system, with one of its interceptors
destroying a remote-controlled F-4 fighter plane that was using
radar-jamming signals, while a second Patriot failed to hit an incoming
missile.

The F-4 test was the first time the Army had fired its latest-generation
Patriot, the Pac-3, at a fighter airplane. The other Patriot test firing was
aimed at a Hera target missile which was designed to simulate an incoming
ballistic missile.

The Pentagon is also expanding testing on other missile defense
technologies, including a laser that would be mounted on the nose of a
Boeing 747.

A source who declined to be identified has provided your correspondent with
the following list of design specifications.

The main features of the "PATRIOT" Pac-3:
-    Head touch sensor
-    Camera (CMOS image sensor)
-    Stereo microphone
-    Speaker
-    Chin touch sensor
-    Pause button Chest light
-    Back touch sensor
-    Acceleration sensor
-    "Memory Stick" slot for PATRIOT
-    Lithium ion battery pack
-    PC card slot
-    Tail (equipped with LEDs)
-    Joints (20 "degrees of freedom")
Weights (inclusing a battery and a memory stick) : Approx. 1.5kg
(Approx.3.3lb)
Dimensions (W/H/D) (not including ears and tail) : Approx. 152 x 281 x 250
mm (Approx. 5.98 x 11.06 x 9.84 inches)
Components    Body, Head, Tail, Leg x 4, "Removable"
Program Storage Medium    Memory Stick for PATRIOT
Movable Parts    Mouth: 1 degree of freedom
Head: 3 degrees of freedom
Legs: 3 degrees of freedom x 4 legs
Ears: 1 degree of freedom x 2 ears
Tail: 2 degrees of freedom
Total: 20 degrees of freedom
Input/Output    PC Card slot Type2 In/Out
Memory Stick slot In/Out
AC IN Power Supply connector Input
Image Input    CMOS Image sensor
Audio Input    Miniature Microphones
Audio Output    Miniature Speaker
LCD Display    Time, Volume, Battery condition
Built-in Sensors    Temperature Sensor
Infrared Distance Sensor
Acceleration Sensor
Pressure Sensors (Head, the Back, Chin & Legs)
Vibration Sensor
Built-in Clock    Date & Time
Power Consumption    Approx. 9W (tentative) Standard operation in autonomous
mode
Operating Time    Approx. 1.5Hours (tentative) Standard operation in
autonomous mode
Charging Time    Approx. 2 hours ( with a supplied AC Power Adaptor and the
"Lithium Ion Battery pack" ERA-201B1)
Dimensions(W/H/D)
(not including ears and tail)    Approx. 152 x 281 x 250 mm (Approx. 5.98 x
11.06 x 9.84 inches)
Weights(including a battery and a memory stick)    Approx. 1.5kg
(Approx.3.3lb)
Color    Gold/Silver/Black
Supplied Accessories    AC Adapter, Lithium Ion Battery Pack ERA-201B1(1),
Ball, Documentation, etc
Operating Temperature    41 F to 95 F (5C to 35C)
Operating Humidity    10% to 80%
Design and specifications subject to change without notice.

 
The Pentagon isn't returning my calls.