Posted on 10/24/2008 10:04:35 AM PDT by BGHater
The latest request from the Pentagon jars the senses. At least, it did mine. They are looking for contractors to provide a "Multi-Robot Pursuit System" that will let packs of robots "search for and detect a non-cooperative human".
One thing that really bugs defence chiefs is having their troops diverted from other duties to control robots. So having a pack of them controlled by one person makes logistical sense.
But I'm concerned about where this technology will end up.
Given that iRobot last year struck a deal with Taser International to mount stun weapons on its military robots, how long before we see packs of droids hunting down pesky demonstrators with paralysing weapons? Or could the packs even be lethally armed? I asked two experts on automated weapons what they thought - click the continue reading link to read what they said.
Both were concerned that packs of robots would be entrusted with tasks - and weapons - they were not up to handling without making wrong decisions.
Steve Wright of Leeds Metropolitan University is an expert on police and military technologies, and last year correctly predicted this pack-hunting mode of operation would happen. "The giveaway here is the phrase 'a non-cooperative human subject'," he told me:
"What we have here are the beginnings of something designed to enable robots to hunt down humans like a pack of dogs. Once the software is perfected we can reasonably anticipate that they will become autonomous and become armed.
We can also expect such systems to be equipped with human detection and tracking devices including sensors which detect human breath and the radio waves associated with a human heart beat. These are technologies already developed."
(Excerpt) Read more at newscientist.com ...
Fahrenheit 451
Well, I guess we will just have to do something about that then wont we.
Serial numbers start with BHO-
Human hunting spiders from The Minority Report
If scrap metal prices stay like they are, you might be able to make a pretty good living being uncooperative.
I wouldn’t mind owning a robot that kept watch over my property when I’m away.
“Do not move human!”
“Certainly robots! But why? Your directive is to search for and detect a non-cooperative human isn’t it?”
“Affirmative.”
“But I’m being cooperative.”
“Affirmative.”
“So, logically, you are all directly disobeying your directive by detaining me.”
“Affirmative... Go on your way human we must shut down for repairs of an identified but unspecified fault in our processing units.”
Yeah, I wanna surrender to her!
Three words: Homebuilt EMP generators
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