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Battle Roomba Tractor

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the is-this-anime dept.

jazzstep writes "This article on MSNBC introduces an interesting new duo on the robotics front. iRobot and John Deere have teamed up to create a new battle-ready robot for the Pentagon."

4 of 210 comments (clear)

  1. Maybe it's just me... by zanidor · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Does the idea of putting artifical intelligence into a killing machine make anyone else a little nervous?

    1. Re:Maybe it's just me... by JeanBaptiste · · Score: 4, Insightful

      "Does the idea of putting artifical intelligence into a killing machine make anyone else a little nervous?"

      Well it would have made me nervous..... back in 1974.

      I think such things are reasonably commonplace today, the level of automation on a modern warship such as an Aegis cruiser could easily be called AI. Same with Tomahawk missiles, Apache helicopters, unmanned recon planes...

    2. Re:Maybe it's just me... by zanidor · · Score: 5, Insightful

      What I mean when I say that AI in a killing machine makes me nervous is that the idea of relegating the task of taking human life to a _machine_ seems like a bad idea. One reason it seems like a bad idea is that they could flip out and start killing everyone in some sort of sci-fi horror scenario. But, like you said, AI nowadays is probably fairly safe. What bothers me more is that there are so many _humanistic_ considerations that go into taking life. If we eventually reduce killing to a cold-blooded machine process, it just makes it easier to do. Think of how easy it will become for the United States to start a war when the soldiers don't feel so bad about wiping out any number of people. Maybe killing someone is emotionally difficult for a reason... Like I said, maybe it's just me.

  2. Re:Great for them by Leebert · · Score: 5, Insightful

    /me decides to wait for robotic appliances not produced by a company making military gear.

    Great idea.

    Don't forget to not use GPS.
    Oh, and don't forget that you can't get on a plane manufactured by Boeing. Or any airplane manufacturer...
    Or buy a Jeep (or any car, for that matter)...
    Or buy office furniture of any type (or even shop at Staples, Office Depot, etc.)...
    Or buy a computer from Dell, IBM, HP...

    Because Lord knows we can't support the evil corporations who sell things to willing customers with lots of money. How dare they!