Pentagon To Send Robot Soldiers to Iraq 765
conJunk points out this AP story carried by Salon (also covered by various sources linked from Google News) "about the Pentagon's plan to send robot soldiers to Iraq in March or April. The program, Special Weapons Observation Reconnaissance Detection Systems, uses Foster-Miller TALON robots, and is said to be "years ahead of the larger Future Combat System vehicles currently under development by big defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics Corp." If it's successful, maybe our men and women in uniform will have to team up with the United Auto Workers to fight the robo-threat to their jobs." Note that (whatever other considerations you might have about such deployment), the Rules of Robotics that some readers have linked to don't really apply to remote-controlled drones, which is what these are.
obligatory. (Score:5, Funny)
AOL Robots? (Score:0, Funny)
Simpson's quote: (Score:5, Funny)
Re:obligatory. (Score:4, Funny)
Re:AOL Robots? (Score:5, Funny)
I miss Douglas Adams.
Re:obligatory. (Score:1, Funny)
Automation (Score:5, Funny)
Re:obligatory. (Score:1, Funny)
It's far better than trusting a selfish city slicker. At least us commoners have common sense, something sadly lacking in the big cities.
I can see it now (Score:5, Funny)
The Iraqis, for one.... (Score:5, Funny)
TALON online store? (Score:5, Funny)
Equipped with breaching tool, light anti-tank weapon launcher, 12-gauge shotgun and 40mm grenade launcher I must admit - for a moment I reflexively considered my available credit.
Re:obligatory. (Score:2, Funny)
Are they controlled by SkyNet (Score:5, Funny)
They might find bin laden.. (Score:1, Funny)
Johnny 5 (Score:4, Funny)
In the movie Johnny 5 had Apple hardware... does this real one perhaps have a G5?
Is it running Darwin (insert darwinism joke here)?
It could broadcast what it's eyes/camera's see via a QuickTime Stream. It's voice can be done using text to speach. It can even sing (better than the movie) thanks to iTunes.
Oh boy. I bet I'm right!
The clone wars (Score:1, Funny)
The Empire will regain control once and for all. I command.. Send out the clones.
What's next? Nasa turns Mimas into the Deathstar? Naaa....it could never happen.
Re:obligatory. (Score:3, Funny)
So let me get this straight... (Score:5, Funny)
Just so I understand this...
We're giving automatic weapons, and license to kill, to remote-controlled robots that are not only hackable and abusable but that use PLUG'N'PLAY?!?!
I can see the future general now... "Bring me Bill Gates!" [imdb.com]
Dispatch the robots! (Score:2, Funny)
Re:obligatory. (Score:2, Funny)
Re:The clone wars (Score:3, Funny)
Dun dun dun dun-DA-dun dun-DA-dun;
Dun dun dun DUN-da-dun dun-DA-dun.
DA dun! DA dun da da-da dun.
etc.
robotic laws are for wimps (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Simpson's quote: (Score:3, Funny)
no, silly, in the future, wars will be fought with a mmorpg mod for quake 1 teamfortress. except when countries are too poor to afford all the computers, in which case, they'll get their asses kicked the old fashioned way.
Re:obligatory. (Score:2, Funny)
Re:obligatory. (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Simpson's quote: (Score:3, Funny)
A new way to fund the military? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:obligatory. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Simpson's quote: (Score:2, Funny)
1: "Sir, China declared war on the US for protecting Taiwan!"
2: "Quick, get the robots out!"
1: "Sir, they are not working."
2: "We just tested them yesterday. Why would they stop working today?"
1: "Hmmm. They seem to be recieving an encrypted signal that permanently scrambles their ROM."
2: "Who the hell made these damned things?!"
1: "According to this tag underneath.......they were made in China."
2: "oh shit"
Re:obligatory. (Score:2, Funny)
I'm assuming you're in a red state. The same states that banned same-sex marriage for being immoral yet allows cousins to marry?
Robot Insurance (Score:3, Funny)
And remember, persons denying the existance of Robots may be Robots themselves.
But What About The Robot Wives? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:obligatory. (Score:2, Funny)
Ow my legs!! (Score:2, Funny)
Re:I seriously welcome it (not funny) (Score:3, Funny)
Would that be a General Protection Fault?
Re:What the hell? (Score:2, Funny)
And all societies with different government structures don't???
No... with communism and despotism, all you need is some troops in the home city and you're good to go.