Slashdot Mirror
Military Robots Get Machine Guns
javaxman writes "Next spring, the U.S. military is expecting to deploy Talon robots with machine guns. They can also be equiped with rocket launchers. Really, they're remote-controlled 'bots, not true autonomous 'bots, so you can save the Skynet jokes for, um, some day in the not-to-distant future. This is just the first, or maybe second step. As for me, I just want to see arena matches between gangs of these suckers. Robot wars indeed!"
Post this again when they graduate to frickin lasers.
Didn't they get shotguns about a month ago? From what I can tell they'll have rocket launchers by the begining of next year.
I think we should just use robots instead of people, this ensures we won't invade poor innocent countries that can't afford robots, keeping wars to a minimum.
finally! a way to get rid of Trolls without having to smell them!
Theory of flight?! I'll teach you the theory of fist!!
Johnny Five ... ALIVE!
Need I say more?
Military people were complaining gamers make crap soldiers... now we'll own them at robot wars and laugh at how they mocked us for playing space invaders!
I like muppets.
Diebold didn't make them, did they?!
or else!
I for one welcome our machine gun toting remote controlled robot overlords..
OK.. I had to get that one out of the way..
All the worlds indeed a
Did anyone else notice the page file was lemming.htm?
Heh, now I can see how USA of the future is going to run the world. A bunch of armed robots rolling around the middle east bringing freedom to every man, woman, and child while obese American schoolchildren hold the remote linked gamepads in their greasy palms, with attention divided between American Idol and a Kraft "cheese" commercial.
... but ED 209.
:)
Now put down that weapon. You have 30 seconds to comply.
The Mongrel Dogs Who Teach
They can make gun wielding robots, but they cannot make me a Tom Servo to watch movies with me and wisecrack. I tell ya, what is technology good for?
(Sorry, saw the "In the not too distant future" quote in the article, brought up some fond memories)
Monstar L
As long as they remember to enable the WEP security.
Before I thought about any of the ramifications of this, I thought to myself "I think war games are about to get really, really cool."
Now about the ramifications... I'm starting to think that it's only a matter of time before some mad genius combines one of these with the robotic toilet and mankind is doomed.
The enemies of Democracy are
As that old Negro spiritual goes, "[Tibet,]free at last! [Buddha] all mighty! Free at last!"
I would say you're smoking something, but any plant strong enough to make you come up with that would have poisoned itself first and not grown.
rather than telling the difference between a guerilla carrying an RPG and a farmer carrying a section of irrigation pipe.
Do farmers really carry irrigation pipe in battle zones?
Perhaps we can pass out leaflets warning said farmers.
"What's the frequency Kenneth?"
You know it had to be said.
I hope their AI engine is not windows based.
It looks like you're trying to shoot something! What would you like to do:
- Identify your target(s)
- Wait for a supervisor
- Just shoot without help
...which means that it's only a matter of time before the U.S. Army deploys Steve Gutenberg in battle, which is a clear violation of the Geneva Convention.
What ? You think they are going to use these robots against non-americans ? :)
Shh...not so loud! The military is probably planning to outsource the manufacture of these robots to China.
Well thanks for keeping me up the rest of the night you insensitive clod!
It just so happens that I AM A SHEETMETAL WORKER!
Appended to the end of comments you post. 120 chars.
Comment removed based on user account deletion
..x-mas!
:) This was very off topic.
It's for our general evil, "the thing you buy to a person who already has everything". While he wanted sharks with laser beams, they were shot down by enviromental activists.
Now how fun wouldn't it be deathmatching with theese?!
They're still going to fuck up and shoot their allies by mistake
George Bush has all that figured out. You see, on the current path he's guiding our country, in a few years we won't have any allies left.
Then we won't have to worry about that problem.
or something
Hey will these babies support Longhorn?
/sarcasm
You don't even have to jam the signal. I hear if you toss a hat on their plunger it'll completely neutralize them.
good point, yet i think you're forgetting the MACHINE GUNS.
cracking the security gets tougher when you have bullets flying at you. ever hear of anyone wardriving in Compton?
Of the popular TV series "Law & Order". As a senior citizen, you're probably aware of the threat robots pose. Robots are everywhere, and they eat old people's medicine for fuel. Well, now there's a company that offers coverage against the unfortunate event of robot attack, with Old Glory Insurance. Old Glory will cover you with no health check-up or age consideration. You need to feel safe. And that's harder and harder to do nowadays, because robots may strike at any time. And when they grab you with those metal claws, you can't break free.. because they're made of metal, and robots are strong. Now, for only $4 a month, you can achieve peace of mind in a world full of grime and robots, with Old Glory Insurance. So, don't cower under your afghan any longer. Make a choice. Old Glory Insurance. For when the metal ones decide to come for you - and they will.
Yes Sir! /me bows smilingly.
I'm still trying to figure out what people mean by 'social skills' here.
Could come in handy...
It's not guns that kill people, it's robots.
I went to the Talon site and looked at the machines they were proposing. It immediately struck me that I had seen these military robots before, in 1983:a uncher.shtml
http://www.yojoe.com/vehicles/83/pacrats/missilel
Yo Joe!
The wars of the future will not be fought on the battlefield or at sea. They will be fought in space, or possibly on top of a very tall mountain. In either case, most of the actual fighting will be done by small robots. And as you go forth today remember always your duty is clear: To build and maintain those robots. Thank you.
-- Military school Commandant's graduation address, "The Secret War of Lisa Simpson"
In Repressive Burma, it's not just your connection that dies. slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=314547&cid=20819199
Not only did throwing a hat on my plunger never neutralize me, but it seemed to encourage the ladies...
Wait, what were we talking about here?
Just junk food for thought...