iRobot Demonstrates New Weaponized Robot 188
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by
samzenpus
from the you-have-30-seconds-to-comply dept.
from the you-have-30-seconds-to-comply dept.
An anonymous reader writes "According to this IEEE story, iRobot and the US military have released video showing a weaponized version of iRobot's Warrior robot. In the video, the Warrior is seen firing a weapon system called the APOBS (Anti-Personnel Obstacle Breaching System), a grenade-filled line propelled by a rocket and stabilized by a drogue parachute. This system is used to clear minefields and obstructed roads. The video shows soldiers deploying a Warrior with the APOBS mounted on its back. The robot fires the device, which lands along a dirt road, exploding after a few seconds. A voice is then heard, 'Road clear; proceed forward.'"
Obvious questions... (Score:3, Interesting)
This will end well... (Score:4, Interesting)
This older story comes to mind whenever I see a new article about military robots.
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2007/10/robot-cannon-ki/ [wired.com]
Re:All hail the conquers! (Score:3, Interesting)
The robot fires the device, which lands along a dirt road, exploding after a few seconds. A voice is then heard, 'Road clear; proceed forward.'"
That's fine, as long as RoboCop goes first.
Remote Controlled Car (Score:3, Interesting)
This is a remote controlled car with a ridiculous rocket launcher on it. It costs $100k.
iRobot is making a mint sucking money out of the military and out of US taxpayers like me.
You could do this with a $60 RC car from radio shack and a lot of duct tape -- just rig the firing button to the horn. Buy one with big wheels.
For all the things we could be using actual robots for, this is pathetic, and a lot like a million-dollar fireworks show, circa Vietnam.
Re:Manual (Score:2, Interesting)
The military of the future may not need to put lives on the front-lines.
And that is the problem. If nobody comes back home dead, and if the war are fought outside your territory (they are called liberation wars this days), then a war is just a headline on the news for the people on the country deploying the robots.
That makes engaging in "liberation" wars a much more attractive position for your average politician, especially when you are inside an economic crisis and need some foreign enemy to control your population.
Eventually wars will be a tech show where the country with the biggest toys wins and takes it all. At least the non nuclear wars.
I am really sad saying this. But if I was a third world country with a lot of resources (they are the usual target of "liberation" wars) I would see nuclear weapons as the only chance to achieve real independence as I wouldn't be able to afford high tech defenses.
Re:Obvious questions... (Score:4, Interesting)
Well, use prisoners sentenced for execution and animals (30+ kg) tagged to be destroyed. Each prisoner is given as many animals as (s)he wants, and if (s)he steps on a mine, we'll put him/her down with a bullet to the head.
If they manage to clear a set number (say 100 mines), they're free to go.