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Korea To Build Front-line Combat Robot
christchurch wrote to mention the story of a plucky Korean robot that has been built for combat. From the article: "According to design blueprints released during a meeting of science-related ministers, the robot will have six or eight extendable legs with wheels allowing it to move like an insect over uneven terrain. The robot will be armed with various weapons and will operate both by remote control and its own artificial intelligence system"
We're constantly hearing about combat robots, but are any in use? The only ones I know of being in use are reconnaisance robots (of numerous types) and bomb-defusing robots.
Are there any bots out there that are designed to shoot people? I'm constantly hearing about designs for them, but I've never heard of them being put to use.
Some people think "North" when they hear about Korean military stuff.
Of course, if the past Olympics, Asian Games, and other efforts are any indication, many Koreans are trying to disregard the directions altogether - most refer to the country as "Korea," no bloody North, South, C, or D.
To paraphrase someone: Just because you can say a thing, it doesn't necessarily follow that you must.
The drones are expensive remote controlled airplanes - they don't really qualify as a robot.
Why not? While one traditional definition is, err, "human like", another is quite simply a remote controlled or autonomous mechanical device. A remote controlled jet qualifies. Indeed last I heard some of those jets fly autonomous routes, triggering alerts for suspect objects, but it would just be a software change for it to start (Crazily) shooting stuff itself.
If equipped with an autoloader, I would imagine that equipping an M1A2 with remote control would be very much achievable as well. Surprized that hasn't been done already.
Wait a second, why would "who's responsible" matter? Nobody is trying to gun down school buses, and if one did then it would be a tragic accident that people should take measures to prevent from reoccuring, not punish someone over (unless it was caused by some huge fault of theirs). Of course, I'd hope that the AI would be smarter than that (or shut down in the event of a malfunction), or that they keep loaded school buses out of war zones where these things would be deployed. Preferably both.
Three things: First of all, Asimov lived half a century ago, not half a decade ago. Secondly, he can hardly be called "the father of robotics." He neither conceived the idea of a robot nor built any. Since none of the technology came about as a direct result of him, saying that he is the father of the field does a disservice to those who actually pioneered it. Finally, the three rules of robotics were never meant to be guidelines for people to follow. They are essentially MacGuffins, used only to advance the plot of the stories.
Not because these things might go haywire. Quite simply, because they will *obey any order given to them.* You can order them to overthrow the government, or massacre civilians. A real soldier may not comply with such an order - these robots always will.
Security Code: "taxpayer"
Solider: No sir! I will not kill an innocent civilian
Commander: KillBot5000! Kill that mother and small child!
KillBot5000 Would you like me to toture them first?
I certainly can't wait!
Why would they build a battle robot with a head? To make it look more intimidating?
Why not fit a tail too. Is there any reason a robot should be directional at all?
The idea of armies of battle robots fighting each other all seems a bit burlesque to me. Can you imagine Robots vs Robots in a "take that hill" scenario. Who's going to surrender if there are only robots out there - and surrender what? Their sensors?
No, your children are not the special ones. Nor are your pets.
Of course, I was thinking of Bruce Schneier's infamous quote: It is poor civic hygiene to install technologies that could someday facilitate a police state. I suspect that when you or your children are on the receiving end of them, Then you will not be welcoming them. If nothing else, think kent state in vietnam era.
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.