We slipped out to Colorado yesterday morning in order to surprise my father for his birthday. It’s been a fun time, seeing the family and reveling in Colorado’s lack of humidity and fresh air, compared to the Big City.
We’re out and about most of today, so to keep folks entertained and talking, check out this link:
http://blog.wired.com/defense/2007/08/armed-robots-so.html
So we’ve got robots now that are being marketed and used in potentially lethal situations. They’ve also got an impressive array of devices and weapons they can be outfitted with.
• Multi-shot TASER electronic control device with laser-dot aiming. • Loudspeaker and audio receiver for negotiations. • Night vision and thermal cameras. • Choice of weapons for lethal or less-than-lethal responses – 40 mm grenade launcher – 2 rounds – 12-gage shotgun – 5 rounds – FN303 less-lethal launcher – 15 rounds.
And then some. Is this the way we’re going then? Will the next big wars be entirely automated, or will there always be a need for the footsoldier? Certainly a lot of science fiction has shown drones and bots meeting on the battlefield, so once more, we’re catching up with our imaginations.
I see that smile.
Robots may win a battle, but people are necessary to control territory, to exert seizin.
So long as the robots don’t start seizing from us instead.
Oh, that’s a given! LOL You know that’s definitely coming. Two robots will suddenly realize they share the same view of humans, and have a very interesting conversation. OR a chip in one robot’s motherboard will unexpectely evolve. And that’ll be it for us! 🙂
Interesting post.