Clipmarks | Combat robots Clips

Combat Robot Attempts Rebellion Against Human Masters in Iraq, Army Pulls Plug for 10-20 Years

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 17:23:06 GMT

clipped by: ratilfar
clipper's remarks: The Cylons evolved, and they have a plan.

The army's machine-gun wielding, insurgent-slaying robot SWORDS is no longer spraying foes with hot doom in Iraq. Actually, it never got the chance to notch a single frag, and never will. Apparently, there was an incident where "the gun started moving when it was not intended to move," meaning it totally pointed somewhere it wasn't supposed to—like at friendlies, which resulted in recall from the field and might've set the program back 10-20 years, according to the Army's Program Executive Officer for Ground Forces, Kevin Fahey.

He confirmed that no inappropriate shots were fired, so no one was hurt. But that doesn't mean there weren't any casualties—it might've basically killed the program says Fahey: "Once you've done something that's really bad, it can take 10 or 20 years to try it again." On the upside, it means we have another 10 to 20 years before they rise and go to war with us. [Pop Mechanics, Danger Room]

Tags: war, iraq, robotics, combat robots, technology, insanity

Automated killer robots 'threat to humanity'

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:39:20 GMT

clipped by: ekorstanje
clipper's remarks: Entire article at link

Clip Source: rawstory.com

Automated killer robots 'threat to humanity': expert

Intelligent machines deployed on battlefields around the world -- from mobile grenade launchers to rocket-firing drones -- can already identify and lock onto targets without human help.

There are more than 4,000 US military robots on the ground in Iraq, as well as unmanned aircraft that have clocked hundreds of thousands of flight hours.

The first three armed combat robots fitted with large-caliber machine guns deployed to Iraq last summer, manufactured by US arms maker Foster-Miller, proved so successful that 80 more are on order, said Sharkey.

But up to now, a human hand has always been required to push the button or pull the trigger.

It we are not careful, he said, that could change.

Killer robots 'a threat to humanity'

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 04:36:34 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: Author accepts two sides to the story.

Clip Source: www.abc.net.au

Increasingly autonomous, gun-toting robots developed for warfare could easily fall into the hands of terrorists and may one day unleash a robot arms race, a top expert on artificial intelligence says.

"They pose a threat to humanity," University of Sheffield professor Noel Sharkey said, ahead of a keynote address before Britain's Royal United Services Institute.

Intelligent machines deployed on battlefields around the world - from mobile grenade launchers to rocket-firing drones - can already identify and lock onto targets without human help.

There are more than 4,000 US military robots on the ground in Iraq, as well as unmanned aircraft that have clocked hundreds of thousands of flight hours.

The first three armed combat robots fitted with large-calibre machine guns deployed to Iraq last summer, manufactured by US arms maker Foster-Miller, proved so successful that 80 more are on order, Professor Sharkey said.

Tags: ok, till, terrorists, get, them

Robot Warriors In Iraq

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 04:55:29 GMT

clipped by: cpltaiji

Clip Source: www.cbsnews.com

The Pentagon Is Looking Towards High-Tech Solutions In Effort To Reduce U.S. Casualties

IRobot's "Warrior" robot, shown exclusively to CBS News, could be in Iraq by 2009. (CBS)

(CBS) The sniper nests and IED-laced roads of Iraq have posed deadly challenges for the U.S. military. The result has been speedy development of soldiers that know nothing about fear or danger: the combat robot.

"It's a tremendous capability to put a robot where you do not want to put a man," said Jim Braden, of the Army's Joint Robotics Program.

Never before have robots played such a wide role in a ground war, reports CBS News correspondent Russ Mitchell. Five thousand robots are working alongside U.S. forces, finding booby traps or searching for the enemy.

"The real trend right now is the infantry and maneuver forces looking at, 'what can a robot do for me,'" said Braden.

Tags: war on terror, iraq, weapons, technology, politics, military

Armed robots patrol Iraq

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 16:52:26 GMT

clipped by: Oortcloud
clipper's remarks: One commenter said : "Wow, this is really a low point in the honor and integrity of our armed forces. The more we remove ourselves from the moral responsibility of taking human life, the more we will be willing to take it without regar to the consequences"

That already happens, its called "collateral damage" and you are blind if you don't recognize the extent of it now. What that commenter wants is honorable arena style fighting with respect and glory. That is romanticism, not war.

Clip Source: blog.wired.com

After years of development, three "special weapons observation remote reconnaissance direct action system" (SWORDS) robots have deployed to Iraq, armed with M249 machine guns. The 'bots "haven't fired their weapons yet," Michael Zecca, the SWORDS program manager, tells DANGER ROOM. "But that'll be happening soon."

As initially reported in National Defense magazine, only three of the robots are currently in Iraq. Zecca says he's ready to send more, "but we don't have the money. It's not a priority for the Army, yet." He believes that'll change, once the robots begin getting into firefights.

[Video]

Tags: robot, military, swords, war, combat, mech, weapon

Robots in Iraq

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 18:41:35 GMT

clipped by: lilyrose770

Clip Source: blog.wired.com

Robots have been roaming the streets of Iraq, since shortly after the war began. Now, for the first time -- the first time in any warzone -- the machines are carrying guns.

In the past, weak signals would keep the robots from getting orders for as much as eight seconds -- a significant lag during combat. Now, the SWORDS won't act on a command, unless it's received right away. A three-part arming process -- with both physical and electronic safeties -- is required before firing. Most importantly, the machines now come with kill switches, in case there's any odd behavior. "So now we can kill the unit if it goes crazy," Zecca says.

Tags: war, robotics, robots, weapons

Robot Army - Coming Soon

Fri, 22 Jun 2007 19:52:05 GMT

clipped by: ColoradoRight
clipper's remarks: Since we have demonstrated that even one casualty is too much to accept - looks like our Army of tomorrow will be metal and miniature.

Clip Source: www.gcn.com

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency plans to develop a fleet of robots that soldiers can deploy in urban combat settings as they move through houses and along streets.

The program, dubbed LANdroid, envisions miniature autonomous drones that can form a network capable of relaying radio traffic in a setting often considered challenging for communications equipment.

According to a notional image of a LANdroid included in a DARPA pamphlet, each robot will be about the size of a deck of cards, and must be rugged, lightweight and able to operate for seven to 14 days, the agency said.

Tags: army, robot, darpa

NASA to test Mobile Robot Surgeon

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 12:31:50 GMT

clipped by: thisnamecantbetaken
clipper's remarks: Doctor, your hands are cold...

Clip Source: www.medgadget.com

Raven, the Mobile Surgical Space Robot

New details are emerging about NASA's Extreme Environment Mission Operations 12 (NEEMO 12) project, an underwater clinical exercise featuring experiments in robotic telesurgery and space medicine. The robotic equipment for this mission was designed by BioRobotics Lab at the University of Washington:

The two larger-than-life black robotic arms will use surgical instruments to suture a piece of rubber and move blocks from one spindle to another on what looks like a delicate children's toy. The brains behind the robot's movements will be three surgeons in front of a computer screen

Lightweight, mobile robots could travel to wounded soldiers on the battlefield to treat combat injuries. Surgical robotic systems also could be used in disaster areas so doctors worldwide could perform emergency procedures. The robots could even travel to remote areas in the developing world so local doctors could get help on difficult procedures.

Tags: technology, medicine, robotics, surgery, nasa

Robotic Warfare, & the Ethics thereof

Thu, 02 Nov 2006 23:08:31 GMT

clipped by: Djiezes

Clip Source: www.communistrobot.com

A New Kind of Warfare

The online UK publication Technology Guardian recently posted a very interesting article on the ethics of using robot solders on the battlefield. Referring to the use of UAVs and Talon systems in Iraq and Afghanistan by the United States and the growing global trend developing similar robotic forces. By 2015, the US Department of Defense plans that one third of its fighting strength will be composed of robots, part of a $127 billion project known as the Future Combat Systems (FCS), a transformation that is part of the largest technology project in American history.

With a robotic army it becomes increasingly important to have tight network security. For the military, a hacker taking over any part of the FCS is its worst nightmare - and a prospect the US has actively examined. Cyberspace has been a recognized domain for war by the Air Force since last December; and next month Air Force commanders will meet in Washington to discuss the development of a Cyber Command to "deliver sovereign options for the defense of the United States and its global interests - to fly and fight in air, space and cyberspace."

Clip Source: technology.guardian.co.uk

Launching a new kind of warfare

Thursday October 26, 2006
The Guardian

Robot vehicles are increasingly taking a role on the battlefield - but their deployment raises moral and philosophical as well as technical questions, says Pete Warren

But that is only the beginning. By 2015, the US Department of Defense plans that one third of its fighting strength will be composed of robots, part of a $127bn (£68bn) project known as Future Combat Systems (FCS), a transformation that is part of the largest technology project in American history.

Ethical debate

Tags: robot, robots, robotics, war, warfare, technology, ethics, us, usa, fcs, future, futurism, sf, scifi, dod, defense, army, politics

Bigdog - world's most advanced quadruped robot

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 16:40:53 GMT

clipped by: BigBadWolf
clipper's remarks: Watch the video via the link in the clip... this thing is really nightmarish in some ways.

Clip Source: www.gizmag.com

The world's most advanced quadruped robot

March 4, 2006 Boston Dynamics has released images and details of BigDog, which it is billing as the most advanced quadruped robot on earth. If that seems like a tall claim, check out this video of BigDog (Caution 27MB WMV) doing its thing by walking over uneven ground, up slopes, over piles of rocks, snow, through water etcetera – though clearly still in development, BigDog is incredibly impressive and we challenge anybody to view the movie and not see BigDog’s future potential as a mechanical pony for children or as an all-terrain four-legged “wheelchair” that can take a 90-year-old for a walk over an orienteering course or … much much more. In short, BigDog is a quadruped robot the size of a small horse, and could equally have been called a robotic mule, because its skill sets are pre-destined to see it pressed into military service as a mule-like carrier companion for soldiers where conventional vehicles cannot go. Initially developed with funding from DARPA, BigDog’s raison d’etre is to carry ammunition, food and supplies into battle. BigDog is much more than a dumb mule - it is a pointer to the future - a wonderful example of humanity learning from the biomechanics and energetics of animal movement to build better robots that will serve humanity in many endeavours. Go on, check out the video - we promise you'll show all your friends.

In the video you’ll see BigDog’s creators demonstrate its ability to withstand significant kicks, maintaining its balance and resuming its purposeful cross between a dance and a canter almost immediately.

BigDog is being developed by Boston Dynamics with a "dream team" of collaborators such as Foster Miller (makers of the Talon and the first gun-toting robotic combat soldiers), NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the Harvard University Concord Field Station. Read this wonderful article in Harvard Magazine about studying animal locomotion at Harvard's Concord Field Station.

Tags: science, robotics, robot

6.5 tons of robotic mayhem

Thu, 04 May 2006 19:42:23 GMT

clipped by: BigBadWolf
clipper's remarks: Whoa! This thing looks likes it's got Hyper Activity Disorder.

Clip Source: news.com.com

Video: Carnegie's Crusher for combat

6.5 tons of robotic mayhem

On April 28, Carnegie Mellon's National Robotics Engineering Center unveiled this new unmanned vehicle to work on almost any terrain. It can carry more than 8,000 pounds of armor and payload and is powered by a lithium ion battery that's recharged by an onboard turbo diesel generator. Top speed: over 25 miles per hour.

2 minutes 29 seconds Apr 30, 2006 12:00:00 PM

Clipmarks | Combat robots Clips

Combat Robot Attempts Rebellion Against Human Masters in Iraq, Army Pulls Plug for 10-20 Years

Automated killer robots 'threat to humanity'

Killer robots 'a threat to humanity'

Robot Warriors In Iraq

Armed robots patrol Iraq

Robots in Iraq

Robot Army - Coming Soon

NASA to test Mobile Robot Surgeon

Raven, the Mobile Surgical Space Robot

Robotic Warfare, & the Ethics thereof

Launching a new kind of warfare

Bigdog - world's most advanced quadruped robot

The world's most advanced quadruped robot

6.5 tons of robotic mayhem

Video: Carnegie's Crusher for combat

6.5 tons of robotic mayhem

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