I was wondering why they have not sent robots before now.

quote:

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The US military is planning to deploy robots armed with machine-guns to wage war against insurgents in Iraq.

Eighteen of the 1m-high robots, equipped with cameras and operated by remote control, are going to Iraq this spring, the Associated Press reports.

The machine is based on a robot already used by the military to disable bombs.

Officials say the robot warrior is fast, accurate and will track and attack the enemy with relatively little risk to the lives of US soldiers.

Unlike its human counterparts, the armed robot does not require food, clothing, training, motivation or a pension.

When not needed in war, it can be mothballed in a warehouse.

However, the robot will rely on its human operator, remotely studying footage from its cameras, for the order to open fire.

According to Bob Quinn, a manager with Foster-Miller, the US-based company which worked with the military to develop the robot, the only difference for a soldier is that "his weapon is not at his shoulder, it's up to half a mile away".

Test of metal

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.

"It eliminates the majority of shooting errors you have," said Staff Sgt Santiago Tordillos.

Mr Quinn says there are plans to replace the computer screen, joysticks and keypad in the remote-control unit with a Gameboy-style controller and virtual-reality goggles.

The Foster-Miller company is owned by the QinetiQ Group, a joint venture between the UK's Ministry of Defence and US-based holding company, Carlyle Group.
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.

"It eliminates the majority of shooting errors you have," said Staff Sgt Santiago Tordillos.

Mr Quinn says there are plans to replace the computer screen, joysticks and keypad in the remote-control unit with a Gameboy-style controller and virtual-reality goggles.

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Awww, hell, Linux, I thought you were gonna be talking about "Arnold" !!! I was kind of hoping....... oh never mind, that would be a bad thing to post Damned Dem in Republican clothing !!

Where the hell is R2D2 when you need him?

good post. I was reading about this yesterday.I still think you cant beat a soldier on the ground though. great concept,but not the answer otherwise it wouldve been used in mass deployment.

ROFL!! I think we should don some armor suits like in HALO, and get 'er done.

mmmmm.. Robo-Cop

Mike,

Funny you should mention that particular robot - the Vulcan Phalanx Close-In-Weapon System (30MM gatling gun with guidance radar) is sometime fondly referred to as "R2D2 with a hard-on".

quote:

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Originally posted by Surface Dog:
Mike,

Funny you should mention that particular robot - the Vulcan Phalanx Close-In-Weapon System (30MM gatling gun with guidance radar) is sometime fondly referred to as "R2D2 with a hard-on".

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SD, being the awesome Tweet that I am, was bored on the Tripoli and hooked up with an FC1 through the First Class Mess. He was having problems with the CWIS. I got with him and we got it fixed !! It was kind of fun for an "O" level Tweet !!

BTW, Fredericksburg is a really nice town !!

Thor - Yeah, I like the area a lot. Cool history, enough civilization so that you can find stuff but sparse enough so that you can own a little land. I don't live in the city proper, though - too many espresso-sipping college liberals.

In a few of my jobs I "owned" CIWS - the Block 1's were great, but the Block 0's cost me about $75K per mount per year to maintain.

Still, I loved PAC-firing those loud bastards...

quote:

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Originally posted by Surface Dog:
Mike,

Funny you should mention that particular robot - the Vulcan Phalanx Close-In-Weapon System (30MM gatling gun with guidance radar) is sometime fondly referred to as "R2D2 with a hard-on".

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Now thats my kinda robot, that would kick ass in robot wars hey!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Droids, Robots, makes you wonder what next, and where the future could be heading.

So when all your kids play on the Play Station non stop, playing shoot em ups, they could be practising for future wars.

Food for thought hey!

mike,

Don't forget all the advances in UAV's. Better sensors, armament, etc.

We're gonna need a lot of PlayStation-trained kids in the future...

Sh*t, you and I had the same thought at the same time. That's kinda freakin' me out...

quote:

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Originally posted by se0sea:
good post. I was reading about this yesterday.I still think you cant beat a soldier on the ground though. great concept,but not the answer otherwise it wouldve been used in mass deployment.

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The idea is to give them to the soldiers on the ground so that they can utilize them. With the video camera they can see who is hiding in a building, possibly helping to keep the civilian body count down low.

Betcha dem little suckers disappear quickly on the streets...

Yogi