One modern military weapon that is being more frequently used is the robot soldier. Yes, robots are taking over the roles that humans once had. Some of these jobs, such as getting rid of bombs or walking through minefields, have the potential to save many human lives. However, there’s a sinister side to all of this. Some of these robots are equipped with weapons.
Currently, a human being controls the armed robot soldiers. Disturbingly, scientists and engineers are talking about the possibility of a future where these robots become “unmanned” and operate on their own.
The SWORDS military robot is basically the first evolution of robotic weapons. What used to be mere science fiction in the 80’s has now become a reality, and 10 years from now, the SWORDS robot will be in the scrap pile. That’s because this tiny guy represents a proof-of-concept project to show the world, and the US leaders, that robotic tanks and such can and should be built. It goes to show that we can create offroad robots that can tote many different types of guns (the SWORDS can be outfitted with a rocket launcher, sniper rifle, machine gun, grenade launcher, and more), successfully locate the enemy, and take him out on command. Fortunately, the tiny robot isn’t autonomous. It is controlled by a human operator on a computer from far away.
See it in action.
