Military Robots

Seeing how dim-witted supposedly AI-equipped battle droids are, is this really a good idea? Not all droids are as smart or resourceful as trusty ol' R2-D2.

Oh great! More things for sb to mess play with!

it is only a matter of time before T-1 is made

I have long looked at Robots as Transformational Products that in the coming years will become more ubiqutious. It has been some years now that even Scientific American put forth a similar thesis. For investors buying stocks I would recommend buying stock in Robot companies. For engineers and scientists I would recommend looking towards that sector for work.

It would appear that a classic progression of R&D and invention has been taking place whereby the industry benefits from war.

From what I know, aircraft illustrate benefits to the business and technology as a result of Wartime competitions most profoundly, but I am adding in things like Radar, GPS systems computers and robots, like drones to get there.

The successes of Robotic Spacecraft wandering around on Mars ought to swell human hearts as much as the fact that man walked on the Moon, but they do not, near as much as if man and machine were there together.

It is sort of depressing to us that for us, living on the Moon, or on Mars, or a Terraformed Venus, or up in a SpaceShip, is likely to be not near as much fun as it was supposed to be. Apparently having sex requires putting on a sex suit, instead of undressing even.

Looks like it is the perfect world for Robots though.

One of the disadvantages of Bio Digestor gas generating systems where it is possible that the Robot Waste Collector Robot on the Chicken Farm would advance that gas making system represents itself to me, for it is reported to be labor intensive, and recommends drilling for what is laying around still.

Sort of an odd application, but for large chicken farms a robot that picked up all the chickenshit and ran the gas generation system to power the slaughter, cleaning, and packaging coupled with thermal and PV, might be worth the expenditure for Capital investment and invention.

On the factory floors I do expect that more versitle Robots will be in demand, for some of the hold back on US Car Factories does seem to flow from reliance on a less adaptable Robot force.
Wow, How about that! Here comes the Robot Force! They're wrestling with Asteroids in Space, and picking up Wastes! Look What They Do For Us! They'll even Fight Wars for us!

I think it is very important to clarify what the definition of a robot is, versus a remotely controlled device.

A robot is autonomous.

A remotely controlled device has a human operator. Those systems used in Iraq are not robots. they are remotely controlled. it has cameras and sniffers, and sensors and actuators... but it is not in control of itself.

A robot is autonomous. A robot is autonomous. it thinks for itself; decides what to do, and does it. no human except the programmer. A real robot.. the one's that we are afraid of, are programmed to learn... predict... problem solve... etc. It is goal oriented, event driven...

the items used in iraq, or in the FPS game"Frontlines: Fuel of War" are not robots.. they are remotely piloted mini aircraft (explosive type, or missile firing type), or mobile miniguns, etc.

Chris

The dictionary definition is actually pretty broad. According to mine, an Oxford, it is simply a "machine with a human appearance, or functioning like a human."

The definition does go on to approve of automatic independent functioning, but does not fully exclude a lack of autonomy.

In fact it appears that you may correctly even call a human being a "robot", if they are insensitive.

I am more inclined to be less strict, and will allow for two categories: the Autonomous Robot, and the Remote Controlled Robot.

It is not a good idea actually to create Robots, that are not subject to at the least, a cutoff switch.

The History of The Cold War has shown that a number of people in power, as well as the general populace, is extremely uncomfortable with fully automated systems.

"Hey Dimetri! Do you know your robot, has attacked my robot?"

Truly Dr. Strangelove is a great movie. "What do you mean you can't stop it?"