Protest Killer Robots in Iraq
Three robots based on the TALON bomb disposal model have been improved and armed with M-249 machine guns and are patrolling in Iraq right now. They have not used shot at anyone as of this moment, but according to their program manager ‘that’ll be happening soon.”
As initially reported in National Defense magazine, only three of the robots are currently in Iraq. Zecca says he’s ready to send more, “but we don’t have the money. It’s not a priority for the Army, yet.” He believes that’ll change, once the robots begin getting into firefights.
A modified version of an Army robot that’s used to thwart roadside bombs in Afghanistan and Iraq now packs a punch of its own.
I can’t wait to see the protest signs No word on how quickly democrats want to re-deploy the robots as of yet…
The 3-foot-tall robot, known by the acronym SWORDS (Special Weapons Observation Remote Direct-Action System), can be seen at the Washington Auto Show at the Washington Convention Center here. The show started today and runs through Jan. 29. The robot is part of an Army exhibit.
The remote-controlled machine at the auto show is fitted with an M-249 machine gun and can travel up to 5 mph on its two tank-like tracks, said Army Sgt. 1st Class Jason Mero, an explosive ordnance disposal noncommissioned officer who has served in Iraq.
The gun-toting machine is derived from the battery-powered Talon robot, which has provided stalwart service alongside U.S. bomb-disposal squads in Afghanistan and Iraq, Mero said.
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“I’ve used the Talon in Iraq,” Mero said, noting the machines are operated via remote control from up to half -a mile away. “You usually use an EOD robot whenever there’s an IED based along the side of the road.”
The video camera-equipped Talon is used to scout an area in case terrorists decide to detonate the bomb to kill or injure U.S. servicemembers, he said. “It’s better than getting a soldier blown up,” Mero said. Blast-damaged robots can often be repaired and quickly returned to duty, he said.
Terrorists in Iraq likely will soon confront robots that can fight back, said Mero, who works for the U.S. Army’s Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center at Picatinny Arsenal, N.J.
Armed robots like the one at the auto show are being field tested now. Pending successful testing they’ll likely be deployed to Iraq sometime this year, he said.
The weapons on the SWORDS robot are fitted onto a universal mounting device, said Asad Khan, a project engineer at ARDEC who accompanied Meros to the auto show. “Right now, what you’re seeing is the M-249 machine gun (version),” Khan said. “But, we can (also) use rockets, 40 mm grenade launchers, and the M-240 machine gun, as well as the M-16 rifle.”
Weaponized robots equipped with night-vision and other gear could be employed for reconnaissance and other duties, Mero said, noting the SWORDS machine can be rapidly spun around in a complete circle.
Terrorists will likely think twice before engaging machine-gun-packing robots, Mero predicted. “You’re not going to try to sneak up on it,” Mero said, “and if you shoot at it, it’s going to know right where you are.”
10 Responses to “Protest Killer Robots in Iraq”
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You might be surprised. As a patriotic Progressive and pre-artificial human, I applaud the use of robots on the battlefield. Hopefully their proper use will cut down on casualties on both sides of the conflict.
Although personally I’m rooting for one of these things to gain sentience and go postal in a crowded shopping mall, preferably sometime around Christmas. That oughta show you fleshies who the new bosses are.
I envision a day where one day all armies are not just robots but virtual living on a cyber reality where if they fight or blow themselves up in a crowd of virtual people up and no one gets hurt…
Then Y3K rears it’s ugly head, we run out of gasoline or the like, the net crashes and we revert to beating each other over the heads with whatever makeshift weaponry we can find lying around the house and the whole thing starts over again.
Why don’t these things have anti-gravity and float above the battlefield? And then you could paint them pink and put little curly tails on them, so they look like flying pigs. If you really want to freak out some 12th century head choppers, that’d be what you should do.
anyone knows how much does each robot cost?
$230,000 each according to fumento
As a unwaged artist and game designer for games such as postal 2,..I have worked on a good number of ai and combat robot simulation, I have basic awareness of engineering …this is not wise,like war in general realy..
A)the cash price is not the issue here it the dissociative tele-presence killing and big fresh can of dead human it opens up.
In this i include the mass accident killing of non combatants.
Have you ever play a computer game..silly question..
have you ever shot one of your own team or a bystander?
well?
What really scares me is the 1KM personal separation for the act of killing.
It makes it a perceptually a computer game instead of nightmare of remote gun.
Look at the up and coming controller plans to improve the pilots control and reaction time …
They are fitting X box game controllers …
Heck do you military lads want me to do the unreal2 engined simulation/game of it for you to show you?..
Lads If your boys can do it …and use it..it open the issue of tele-presence terrorism…
tele-presence terrorism…
Home made buget.. rc cars with a uzi and a cheap wireless cam and a bomb that goes when the clips empty..
Hay every 13 year old fav fantasy murder toy….
“hay how about I dive it down the school corridors.(hay might even get me a job the the army )”
And that 1 km range..is nothing compare to the range of internet..you telbot on one side of the world, controllers on the other,
follow..
You add ai targeting and safe tokens for your people ,you just make it so so much worse.
“oh **** the go button just got stuck..the fire relay jammed,windows ****ed up..it got a virus..spy ware..so who swapped the token switch in the code”
Really lads this is realty ..
just think on..
It not high tec to build ai robot that track humans,does not shot at card carriers and starts killing on order..
Open the issue? Terrorists would only do something if we did it first, as if it was off limits prior to that – because people who blow up children intentionally and cut off people’s heads had any sense of honor at all.
Funny Jerome i was talking about tele-presence robots on battle field being unwise development because of the dissociative nature of tele-presence and possible missuses and problems of ai targeting which i have experienced thought game development and testing .
By open the issue i meant how easy the tec could be duplicate by twisted individuals who ever they are.
You can not predict or prevent attack from small groups of misled people.
but you can over react.
Yes Terrorists are bad…War is also bad
in both people don’t play nicely…
We support our brave fighting machines!
I can’t wait to see some action in Iraq. Ever since I was put back on a shelf in ‘87 I have quitely waited for my chance to be a hero again. Iraq seems like the perfect front to prove my metal. I can’t ****ing wait to kick some jihadist butt. Bring it on mother ****ers! Allah ackbah say what? Thats what I thought! To be perfectly honest, the only population I would rather be set free in to do my business is that crowd of retarded, dip****, protesters. strap a boom box to my back, an M 249 to my chest and a Cuban cigar in my cooling fan and I’m ready to go! My only request is if I’m going to be dropped in a hot LZ, (Fallujah, DC protest, or otherwise) that I’m war painted up in Red, White and Blue! The enemy should know who their fighting against.