From the New York Post (Dec. 3, 2012):
Robots force Navy dolphins onto unemployment line
The US Navy's most adorable employees are about to get the heave-ho because robots can do their job for less.
The submariners in question are some of the Navy's mine-detecting dolphins which will be phased out in the next five years, according to UT Sand Diego.
The dolphins, which are part of a program that started in the 1950's, have been deployed all over the world because of their uncanny eyesight, acute sonar and ability to easily dive up to 500 feet underwater.
Using these abilities they've been assigned to ports in order to spot enemy divers and find mines using their unparalleled sonar which they mark for their handlers who then disarm them.
However, the Navy has now developed an unmanned 12-foot torpedo shaped robot that runs for 24 hours and can spot mines as well as the dolphins.
And unlike dolphins which take seven years to train, the robots can be manufactured quickly....MORE
