Huh... got to git me one of these




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Foster-Miller Begins Delivering New Shipment of TALON Robots to Iraq

Foster-Miller, Inc., announced today that it has begun shipping the first units of a new $20.4 million order from the government for additional TALON™ robots for Iraq. The current shipment brings the number of TALON™ robots performing EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) work in Iraq and Afghanistan to more than 100 robots.
“Foster-Miller remains committed to providing our troops with the best possible equipment in the shortest possible time,” said Dr. William Ribich, president and CEO. “Every robot we put in harm’s way helps protect another soldier.”

TALON™ robots have been in continuous, active military service since 2000 when they were successfully used in Bosnia to move and dispose of live grenades. They were used extensively at Ground Zero in search and recovery efforts after the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center and were the first robots taken into Afghanistan by Special Forces during action against the Taliban and Osama bin Laden in 2002. They went into Iraq with US forces in March 2003. TALON™ robots have now completed more than 20,000 EOD missions.


http://www.foster-miller.com/pressreleases/new$20m_talon_robot_order.htm



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Armed robots soon marching to battle?

With a weapons platform mounted to a Talon robot, the SWORDS system allows Soldiers to fire small arms weapons by remote control from as far as 1,000 meters away. The system, demonstrated this week at the bienniel Army Science Conference, may soon join Soldiers in Iraq.

By Sgt. Lorie Jewell




ORLANDO, Fla. (Army News Service, Dec. 3, 2004) – Soldiers may have armed robots as battle buddies by early next year, according to industry and military officials attending the biennial Army Science Conference.

The Special Weapons Observation Reconnaissance Detection System, or SWORDS, will be joining Stryker Brigade Soldiers in Iraq when it finishes final testing, said Staff Sgt. Santiago Tordillos, a bomb disposal test and evaluation NCOIC with the EOD Technology Directorate of the Army’s Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center at Picatinny Arsenal, N.J.

“We’re hoping to have them there by early 2005,” Tordillos said. “The Soldiers I’ve talked to want them yesterday.”

The system consists of a weapons platform mounted on a Talon robot, a product of the engineering and technology development firm Foster-Miller. The Talon began helping with military operations in Bosnia in 2000, deployed to Afghanistan in early 2002 and has been in Iraq since the war started, assisting with improvised explosive device detection and removal. Talon robots have been used in about 20,000 missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to Foster-Miller reports.

“It’s not a new invention, its just bringing together existing systems,” said Tordillos, who has been involved with the project since its inception about a year and a half ago.

Different weapons can be interchanged on the system – the M16, the 240, 249 or 50-caliber machine guns, or the M202 –A1 with a 6mm rocket launcher. Soldiers operate the SWORDS by remote control, from up to 1,000 meters away. In testing, it’s hit bulls eyes from as far as 2,000 meters away, Tordillos said. The only margin of error has been in sighting, he added.

“It can engage while on the move, but it’s not as accurate,” Tordillos said.

The system runs off AC power, lithium batteries or Singars rechargeable batteries. The control box weighs about 30 pounds, with two joysticks that control the robot platform and the weapon and a daylight viewable screen.

SWORDS recently was named one of the most amazing inventions of 2004 by Time Magazine.

There are four SWORDS in existence; 18 have been requested for service in Iraq, Tordillos said. So far, each system has cost about $230,000 to produce, said Bob Quinn, lead integrator for the project. When they go into production, Quinn estimates the cost per unit will drop to the range of $150,000 to $180,000.

Quinn credits Soldiers with getting the project started.

“It’s a classic boot-strap effort,” said Quinn.

Tordillos fielded a variety of questions while showing off the system in the exhibit hall. Soldiers wanted to know what military occupational speciality they have to sign up for in order to work with the system. There is no specific MOS for it, he said.

Other questions were more thought provoking. Does he envision a day when armed robots outnumber humans on the battlefield? Tordillos firmly said no.

“You’ll never eliminate the Soldier on the ground,” he said. “There’ll be a mix, but there will always be Soldiers out there.”


http://www4.army.mil/ocpa/read.php?story_id_key=6613

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Imagine the possibilities, future politicians can go to war without having to worry about upsetting their constituents over human casualties. .. an armed robotic military.

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"When I'm in command, every mission is a suicide mission!" -Capt. Zapp Branigan

Not much different I guess then arming the Predator drones.

I just hope they don't figure out a way to teach these things to think for themselves.

Sweet though, eh?




Not yet. These are just first generation armed robots. Just think back how far aviation has come in less than a hundred years.

Future generations? Hehe.. I fear for this planet. Politicians with robotic armies would mean warfare without humanity which would be a truly scary thing for civilians caught in the crossfire.

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"When I'm in command, every mission is a suicide mission!" -Capt. Zapp Branigan

The far off future is what I was thinking of. They may decide WE are the problem.

I've probably just seen and read too much science fiction.

No worries. Arnold is now here to make sure that CyberDyn Systems Corporation will never build the SkyNet computer defense network. The Governor of California has long ago realized that it can't be bargained with, it can't be reasoned with — it doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until we are dead.

So have faith in Arnold. He knows what is best in life.

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"When I'm in command, every mission is a suicide mission!" -Capt. Zapp Branigan

Sounds like we may have one of these in the White House already.

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<<Cheer up, the worst is yet to come.>>

Resistance is futle

I belive the robots would be smart enough to remove the politicians first.

I want one for my front yard

Now there's an idea. I wonder if they can be programmed to keep the (*)(*)(*)(*) armadillos out of my flower beds?