First Armed Robots on Patrol in Iraq

[Guard Dog]

Link: Armed Robots Patrol Iraq

 

Be sure to check out the video.

 

This thing is like Asimov's worst nightmare come to life. From an engineering standpoint I am fascinated. I'd be curious to know what the lag time on command execution is. What it's current usage is while running full out, firing and panning it's cameras simultaneously? Do the treads have separate drive trains? But that of course is proprietary. We have all heard that eventually wars will be fought using robot proxies. But I would bet, like me, no one believed it. Until now.

 

I have one request. Can we please limit this discussion to the technology and leave out the politics of the Iraq war itself. Everyone knows how everyone feels already. But the morality of the use of weapons like this is certainly fair game.

 

Now all those years of playing Doom will pay off.

Edited August 4, 2007 by Guard Dog

[Walsingham]

I personally find it most disturbing. One of the principle components of human civilisation is the appication of force by the state. And one of the principle features of the historical use of force is the involvement of humans. If robots are to be used to apply force then I believe the consequences could be terrifying. For starters, if there is no-longer any such thing as female Army officers who am I going to date?

[Kaftan Barlast]

It's not a proper Aasimovian robot, as its remot-controlled by a human. So i think Isaac can rest easy for the time being

 

 

This is alot like a miniature STUG tank as was seen in WW2. And a tank without the ability to aim its main weapons independantly of the direction its travelling is severely crippled in combat. With the lag from the remote control, the enemy will be long gone from the time the operator locates his target, to the time it will take for him to turn the robot around, aim and fire.

 

Its cool, but I doubt it will work.

[theslug]

They had this on this show on Discovery Channel quite a few months ago. It was pretty neat, like the dude went for cover like half a mile away or something and like 5 minutes later he gets surrounded by like 3 of them.

[Morgoth]

LOL that video was fun. Reminds me when I was a kid I used to terrorize the neighbors cats with my remote controlled toy car. But seriously, I doubt these robots will have some actual use in practice. Try to navigate that thing in a dark house with stairs and obstacles, or in some quick and fierce close-combat firefight. Besides, you could always take that thing out with a simple hand grenade. Waste of money I say.

Edited August 4, 2007 by Morgoth

[Atreides]

The robot's human remote controlled, if I understand correctly. That's not very different from those small recon planes that carry missiles too I think. I thought those planes were a fantastic tool for taking out targets, independent from moral arguments for the moment. With battles becoming less about armies vs armies and more vs small groups of units the recon plane makes sense.

[Morgoth]

The US Army doesn't train soldiers, but button smashers! Maybe they'll hire some hardcore gamers next.

[Blarghagh]

Number Five Alive!

[Gorgon]

These things might work against a fortified position, or even ambushing near a roadside, but they are pretty useless in a crowded city. How long do you think it would take before one got stolen and sold for parts.

[Guard Dog]

These things might work against a fortified position, or even ambushing near a roadside, but they are pretty useless in a crowded city. How long do you think it would take before one got stolen and sold for parts.

 

Gorgon wins this thread! I'll have that image in my head all day today. I can see a couple of teenagers running away with that thing under their arms. Or worse, the soldier comes to get it and finds it on blocks, gun, treads, and cameras missing.

 

Too funny.

Edited August 4, 2007 by Guard Dog

[SteveThaiBinh]

"special weapons observation remote reconnaissance direct action system (SWORDS)"

 

It took a committee of twelve people eight months to think of that, and all the time getting paid a lot more than me. :sad:

[Gorgon]

Training in flashy sounding acronyms is mandatory in officer school.

[GreasyDogMeat]

"Would you please put down your weapon. You have 20 seconds to comply."

 

Bratta bratta bang bratta boom!

 

"Thank you... for not smoking."

 

[Yuusha]

Link: Armed Robots Patrol Iraq

I have one request. Can we please limit this discussion to the technology and leave out the politics of the Iraq war itself. Everyone knows how everyone feels already. But the morality of the use of weapons like this is certainly fair game.

I would never do a thing like that...

[Walsingham]

These things might work against a fortified position, or even ambushing near a roadside, but they are pretty useless in a crowded city. How long do you think it would take before one got stolen and sold for parts.

 

Gorgon wins this thread! I'll have that image in my head all day today. I can see a couple of teenagers running away with that thing under their arms. Or worse, the soldier comes to get it and finds it on blocks, gun, treads, and cameras missing.

 

Too funny.

 

 

I second.

[Guard Dog]

Link: Armed Robots Patrol Iraq

I have one request. Can we please limit this discussion to the technology and leave out the politics of the Iraq war itself. Everyone knows how everyone feels already. But the morality of the use of weapons like this is certainly fair game.

I would never do a thing like that...

 

Believe it or not you were not the one I was worried about.

[Hildegard]

This is just the begging, just like the first tank...

 

And when the FCS becomes operational.....weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[DeathScepter]

The US Army doesn't train soldiers, but button smashers! Maybe they'll hire some hardcore gamers next.

 

 

 

IF that would be the case, then they all have to do is recurit me for it and I would be very scared if they actually start recuriting me or any hardcore gamers.

[Walsingham]

Link: Armed Robots Patrol Iraq

I have one request. Can we please limit this discussion to the technology and leave out the politics of the Iraq war itself. Everyone knows how everyone feels already. But the morality of the use of weapons like this is certainly fair game.

I would never do a thing like that...

 

Believe it or not you were not the one I was worried about.

 

Oi!

[Musopticon?]

"SWORDS"?

 

Are they serious? That's like straight out of b-mecha anime. Urgh...

[Walsingham]

Swords don't run out of ammunition.

[St_Jimmy]

"SWORDS"?

 

Are they serious? That's like straight out of b-mecha anime. Urgh...

 

This reminds me of how lame reality acutally is.

[Guard Dog]

I always wondered. Do they start out knowing what they want to call it and just try to come up the the words for each letter?

[Gfted1]

The Military Channel had a thing about these and an equally intertesting project for the Navel which now has a remote control patrol boat for ports/rivers/shallow water operations. Its basically an inflatable Zodiac with a .50 cal on the bow and a sensor package on the stern that resembles a FLIR (forward looking infra-red).

[Tale]

I always wondered. Do they start out knowing what they want to call it and just try to come up the the words for each letter?

I'm pretty sure in this case it's a backronym. They wanted to call it SWORD, so they came up with the words for each letter.

 

I, for one, plan on purchasing 50 of these for my robot army. They will be remote controlled by my penguin lieutenants.