Meet the Pentagon's latest robotic abomination...

[pokerfan]

No, it's not a souped-up version of Robby the Robot — it's ATLAS, DARPA's latest attempt at creating a humanoid robot. Unlike the super-realistic Petman, which was designed to test chemical protection clothing, this 330-pound monster is meant to assist in emergency situations. Riiiight...

We've seen a proto-version of ATLAS before, but this updated unit can perform a host of new tricks, like walking through rugged terrain and climb using its hands as feet. It has 28 hydraulically actuated degrees of freedom, and of course, two hands, arms, legs, feet, and a torso with some kind of fancy-ass monitor on it that probably goes "ping!" every once in a while.

Its head is equipped with stereo cameras and — ahem — a laser finder. Eventually, DARPA says the 6-foot robot will use its articulated and sensate hands to use tools designed for humans. Hmmm, by "tools" I wonder if they mean "machine gun."


http://io9.com/meet-the-pentagons-latest-robotic-abomination-atlas-754134125

Hasta la vista, baby....

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. naw.

The machine guns will be built in, two in the front, one in the back.

The really cool addition will be the acoustic gun, a set of highly focused sound generators, which can create a sonic blast big enough to blow up mines, disable vehicles (including low flying drones) and other funky things.

[longship]

2. Well, as long as it's "three laws safe".

[FiveGoodMen]

3. I'll bet the Pentagon's three laws are different from Asimov's

[xocet]

9. All they need to do is adjust the definition of human being....

Here are the laws in Asimov's own words:

Isaac Asimov: The Three Laws of Robotics

"The 1st Law: A robot may not harm a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm."

"Number 2. A robot must obey orders given it by qualified personnel unless those orders violate rule number one."

"Rule Number 3. A robot must protect its own existence (after all it's an expensive piece of equipment) unless that violates rules one or two."

[FiveGoodMen]

13. "Corporations are people, my friend"

[xocet]

17. Exactly! n/t

[krispos42]

4. Combat droids are inevitable

The first ones will be controlled via wireless datalink. The human soldier will stay safely on base in the States, and take shifts marching and fighting their droids across enemy territory.

Eventually, we'll have autonomous droids that take orders on a squad level from a human solder sitting on a base in the States. Entire divisions will consist only of the various leaders of the subdivisions, all sitting in a control room directing their droids as needed.

A sergeant and a corporal controlling a squad of perhaps 12 droids. A lieutenant supervising a platoon of 4 squads of droids. A captain supervising a company of 5 platoons of droids. A colonel supervising a battalion of 4 companies. A brigadier general supervising a brigade of 4 battalions. A lieutenant general ultimately supervising a division of 5 battalions.

[n2doc]

6. And then someone will hack into them n/t

[pokerfan]

7. No way!

I'm pretty sure they will have a password.

[xocet]

10. Or Skynet will achieve self-awareness.... n/t

[krispos42]

11. The potential always exists

Even now.

Although cryptography makes that difficult, it's not impossible. We need cyber-war soldiers no less than trigger-pullers and intelligence spooks and wrench- monkeys.

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. Navy just landed a drone on a carrier, says the news.

In BIG headlines..first unmanned landing.

[MADem]

12. Yes--it did a series of touch-n-goes, too. It was launched from the carrier as well.

Very smooth landing, too.

In my lifetime, we might see "drone" passenger airplanes, with no pilots aboard, or they'll make the pilots do flight attendant duties and just have them on hand "just in case" at the start....

[dixiegrrrrl]

14. ohhhhhh...cool video.

You are so good coming up with just the right vids.

[MADem]

15. I was very interested in this topic so I stayed on top of it as it

was developing.

I remember when the USN was doing very early drone work on shoestring budget in Bainbridge, and USAF was mocking them about it! Times change!!

[Trillo]

5. Maybe they can help at Fukushima?

[DhhD]

16. Star Wars Trailer-Attack of the Clones-2002

https://www.google.com/search?q=Star+Wars+the+clone+wars&rlz=1C1AFAB_enUS496US506&oq=Star+Wars+the+clone+wars&aqs=chrorceid=chrome.0.69i57j0l2j5j69i62l2.23806j0&soume&ie=UTF-8#rlz=1C1AFAB_enUS496US506&sclient=psy-ab&q=attack+of+the+clones+trailer+youtube&oq=Attack+of+the+Clones+Trailer&gs_l=serp.1.2.0l2j0i22i30l2.0.0.1.1659.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0...0.0.0..1c..17.psy-ab.0H3Bcjr0VIM&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&fp=7989a187f28d2bc3&biw=1360&bih=667