US Navy Funds 'MacGyver' Robot

another random user writes "A US team aims to build a robot that can work out how to use nearby objects to solve problems or escape threats. The machine has been dubbed a 'MacGyver Bot,' after the TV character who cobbled together devices to escape life-threatening situations. The challenge is to develop software that 'understands' what objects are in order to deduce how they can be used. The US Navy is funding the project and says the machines might ultimately be deployed alongside humans. It is providing $900,000 to robotics researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology to carry out the work."

Comments

Rip off arm from nearby human

[Anonymous Coward]

and use it as a club.

Re:Rip off arm from nearby human

[simula]

No kidding. Let this be a lesson to human kind.

In the beginning a robot and it's creator are the best of friends. I mean literally nestling you in sweet embrace.

The second that you think it will make a good dance partner and decide to hold onto it's jagged pincers, it will go berserk, breaking cinder brick walls and threatening to throw you from a five story building.

Re:Rip off arm from nearby human

[The Grim Reefer]

and use it as a club.

Fortunately it's a "MacGyver bot". After vanquishing the enemy, it will be able to perform field surgery to re-attach the arm using duck-tape, a pine cone and some mints.

Skynet

[ruinevil]

This is the kind of research that creates Skynet. I don't want adaptive problem solving robots. I don't want to live in post-nuclear wasteland.

Re:Skynet

[fragtag]

Especially when it decides that humans are the root of all problems in some way. Then it will make a gun from a gum wrapper, an office pen, and an air compressor.

God help us.

Re:Skynet

[bartoku]

I don't want to live in post-nuclear wasteland.

Do not worry, you will die in the first wave.

Pfft.

[multiben]

MacGyver never had $900,000. He just had household products and a heart full of courage.

Three laws of robotics

[Cute and Cuddly]

If it is for the navy, will it follow the three laws of robotics? A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws. Enemies are humans too....

Re:Three laws of robotics

[lister king of smeg]

sure it will but its definition of human will be much more solarian (see robots and earth, where on the planet solara the definition of human was solarian) than the standard calvinian robots in the rest of foundation universe

Correction

[wonkey_monkey]

The hypothetical machine has been dubbed a 'MacGyver Bot,'

perfect.

[retchdog]

a pie-in-the-sky but science fiction-sounding objective, vague enough to mean almost anything but providing many opportunities for defining convenient "subgoals" and spinoff projects along the way, and pitched to the military.

yup! this grant and its extensions may well keep a lab swimming in $$$ until the Singularity.

Re:perfect.

[Genda]

That would be "pie-in-the-Skynet".

Will it cover all possible uses?

[Chris Burke]

The challenge is to develop software that 'understands' what objects are in order to deduce how they can be used. The US Navy is funding the project and says the machines might ultimately be deployed alongside humans.

Seems like it would get pretty annoying having one of these around...

"That is a wool sock. It can be used to cover your feet, carry small objects, hold small heavy objects to be used as a bludgeon, or to masturbate."

"That is a bottle of ranch dressing. It can be used to top a salad, as a bludgeon, or to masturbate."

"That is a cheese grater. It can be used..."

Re:Will it cover all possible uses?

[bennomatic]

BRB. Gotta check something with my cheese grater.

Knowing our Navy ...

[PPH]

... they'll get a MacGruber robot.