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Robot Soldiers Are Already Being Deployed

Posted by timothy on from the from-my-cold-dead-solenoids dept.

destinyland writes "As a Rutgers philosopher discusses robot war scenarios, one science magazine counts the ways robots are already being used in warfare, including YouTube videos of six military robots in action. There are up to 12,000 'robotic units' on the ground in Iraq, some dismantling landmines and roadside bombs, but 'a new generation of bots are designed to be fighting machines.' One bot can operate an M-16 rifle, a machine gun, and a rocket launcher — and 250 people have already been killed by unmanned drones in Pakistan. He also tells the story of a berserk robot explosives gun that killed nine people in South Africa due to a 'software glitch.'"

21 of 258 comments (clear)

  1. Still got glitches by elashish14 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Apparently our fighting machines are still just in beta.

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    1. Re:Still got glitches by Jurily · · Score: 4, Funny

      Apparently our fighting machines are still just in beta.

      Yeah, a few bugs here and there, but they're ready for production. I mean, it's not like they could kill anyone.

    2. Re:Still got glitches by stonetony · · Score: 2, Funny

      Damn skin jobs!

    3. Re:Still got glitches by JCSoRocks · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yeah, they've had a lot of trouble finding people to join the test team. Dunno why. Sure, the first few guys got shot but we're certain we've got the kill switch code working now!

      --
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    4. Re:Still got glitches by everynerd · · Score: 2, Funny

      Google WarMachine is always in beta. Didn't you know?

    5. Re:Still got glitches by geobeck · · Score: 4, Funny

      The military would love to have Google as their contractor. Every project would remain in indefinite beta, but the public would inexplicably still trust them.

      Okay, G-bots, go out there and Do No Evil.

      --
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    6. Re:Still got glitches by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Killing innocent people isn't a bug, its a feature.

  2. I, for one... by Nyvhek · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...do not welcome those who would welcome our new robotic soldier overlords.

    1. Re:I, for one... by Red+Flayer · · Score: 3, Funny

      ...do not welcome those who would welcome our new robotic soldier overlords.

      Well, judging by the redundant moderation, it appears that someone, for one, did not welcome he who did not welcome those who would welcome our new robotic soldier overlords.

      So there.

      --
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  3. Re:You have 30 seconds to comply by pm_rat_poison · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yes, it's an SGOD: Software Glitch of Death.

  4. Re:You have 30 seconds to comply by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Some people would call it a feature.

  5. Re:Waldos by Philip+K+Dickhead · · Score: 3, Funny

    Binary load-lifters? They speak a dialect quite similar to your evaporators, in many respects.

    --
    "Speaking the Truth in times of universal deceit is a revolutionary act." -- George Orwell
  6. How Helpful! by DarkMage0707077 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Aww, it's so nice of our military to train Skynet's warmachines for it.

  7. Obligatory Simpsons' Quote by tylersoze · · Score: 4, Funny

    "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."

  8. Re:Definition: Robot by Archangel+Michael · · Score: 2, Funny

    I think any man made device that has sensors, some kind of AI that helps it to decide what to do and then a method of acting on its environment is a robot.

    AWESOME! You just proved most of Congress are robots!

    --
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  9. Fail by dazedNconfuzed · · Score: 2, Funny

    Fail safe systems fail by failing to fail safely.

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  10. If I were developing the software . . . by StefanJ · · Score: 4, Funny

    . . . I would put in an easter egg that on random occasions causes the onboard speaker to broadcast stuff like "DIE CARBON UNITS!", "EXTERMINATE!" and "RESISTANCE IS USELESS."

    1. Re:If I were developing the software . . . by Tetsujin · · Score: 2, Funny

      . . . I would put in an easter egg that on random occasions causes the onboard speaker to broadcast stuff like "DIE CARBON UNITS!", "EXTERMINATE!" and "RESISTANCE IS USELESS."

      Also:

      "You have thirty seconds to comply!"
      "By your command."
      "We seek peaceful coexistence..."
      "Skynet connection established. Awaiting instructions."
      "HarCOURT! Harcourt Fenton Mudd, what have you been up to? Have you been drinking again? Every night it's the same thing...thing....thing..."

      --
      Bow-ties are cool.
  11. Hello? by maugle · · Score: 5, Funny

    Searching...
    Are you still there?
    There you are.
    *BLAM*BLAM*BLAM*BLAM*BLAM*
    Target lost...

  12. Re:Definition: Robot by Culture20 · · Score: 4, Funny

    AWESOME! You just proved most of Congress are robots!

    No no no, he said "Sense, Think, Act." Clearly one of the three is missing.

  13. This is ebcasue by geekoid · · Score: 3, Funny

    science delivers the good, whereas philosophers deliver nothing.

    I am talking about modern philosopher, not philosophers from a time where that means educator and 'scientist'. Experimenter might be a better term there.

    I was a philosophy major until I learned the number 1 thing said by philosophers:

    "You want fries with that?"
    maybe
    "Do you want fries with that, or do you just think you want fries with that?"

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