US plans 'robot troops' for Iraq

Story dated 23 January 2005

"The robot fighter has been named Swords, after the acronym for Special Weapons Observation Reconnaissance Detection Systems. 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." "Eighteen of the 1m-high robots, equipped with cameras and operated by remote control, are going to Iraq this spring, the Associated Press reports." This is really neat; the whole point of military technology is to decrease the mortality rates of our own troops. However, when you start reading about SWORDS and AI (artificial intelligence) in the same story, be scared (think 'Terminators' and 'Cylons').

posted by The Sovereign Editor | 3:59 PM

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