US to deploy machine gun toting robots in Iraq - BBC News

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

------ Forwarded Message
From: Suresh Ramasubramanian <suresh () outblaze com>
Organization: Outblaze - http://www.outblaze.com
Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2005 00:13:41 +0530
To: Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>, Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
Subject: US to deploy machine gun toting robots in Iraq - BBC News

Nice .. I just finished watching Terminator II - Judgement Day and then
saw this piece.

Each of these $200K robots currently has a keyboard and joysticks to
control it but will soon be equipped with gameboy style controllers and
VR goggles.

What's next?  A regiment or two of LAN gamers to control these things?

 srs

>  BBC NEWS
> 'Robot soldiers' bound for Iraq
> The US military is planning to deploy robots armed with machine-guns to wage
war against insurgents in Iraq.
> Eighteen of the 1m-high robots, equipped with cameras and operated by remote
control, are going to Iraq this spring, the Associated Press reports.
> The machine is based on a robot already used by the military to disable bombs.
>
> Officials say the robot warrior is fast, accurate and will track and attack
the enemy with relatively little risk to the lives of US soldiers.
> Unlike its human counterparts, the armed robot does not require food,
clothing, training, motivation or a pension.
> When not needed in war, it can be mothballed in a warehouse.
>
> However, the robot will rely on its human operator, remotely studying footage
from its cameras, for the order to open fire.
> According to Bob Quinn, a manager with Foster-Miller, the US-based company
which worked with the military to develop the robot, the only difference for a
soldier is that "his weapon is not at his shoulder, it's up to half a mile
away".
> Test of metal
>
> The robot fighter has been christened Swords, after the acronym for Special
Weapons Observation Reconnaissance Detection Systems.
>  
> Robot soldier
> Can be fitted with standard-issue M249 or M240 rifle
> Has four cameras, night-vision and zoom lenses
> Can travel over rocks and barbed wire
> Batteries run for up to 4 hours at a time
> Remote control unit has two joysticks and video screen
> Costs $200,000 (£106,757) per unit
>
> It is based on the Talon robot, which is widely used by the military to disarm
bombs.
> A US officer who helped test the robot said it was a more accurate shot than
the average soldier because it is mounted on a stable platform and takes aim
electronically.
> "It eliminates the majority of shooting errors you have," said Staff Sgt
Santiago Tordillos.
> Mr Quinn says there are plans to replace the computer screen, joysticks and
keypad in the remote-control unit with a Gameboy-style controller and
virtual-reality goggles.
> The Foster-Miller company is owned by the QinetiQ Group, a joint venture
between the UK's Ministry of Defence and US-based holding company, Carlyle
Group.
> Story from BBC NEWS:
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/4199935.stm
>
> Published: 2005/01/23 16:45:15 GMT
>
> © BBC MMV


------ End of Forwarded Message


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