BBC
Mr Pathak, also known as Dr Frankenstein
A hi-tech firm based in California is developing sinister-looking humanoid robot soldiers specifically designed to be weaponized, i.e. to be turned into autonomous, front-line killing machines. This is most probably inevitable, given the way things are going. Ukraine is already using robots in the front-line against Russian troops, and not only for logistics, rescue and transport, but also as fighting machines.
Apart from the obvious ethical implications, there are still many technical issues that have not been solved yet. One of them is how to produce robots with strong and versatile hands, to handle weapons, if the robots are going to mimic human soldiers, which, some experts argue, is not the best use of the existing technology anyway.
As for the risk of a killer robot going rogue - a faulty software update being the cause, for instance - you will notice that the black-clad robot in the picture appears to have a chain around its neck. To prevent the machine from running away?
__________
[...] While many companies are building autonomous humanoid robots for factories, homes or companions, Foundation claims it is the only US firm developing them specifically for a broad range of defence applications.
That includes support roles like supply pickup, reconnaissance, recovery of equipment or casualties, and hazard inspection. But also, more controversially, warfighting to engage and neutralise threats – which Pathak calls "frontline weaponisation".
[...] Better hands are crucial. The robot's next set will move in far more ways, with wrists that help it to fire weapons, Pathak says.
Foundation's goal, Pathak adds, is to produce at least 40,000 units a year by end of 2027 with costs in the long term less than $20,000 (£15,000) each. [...]
No comments:
Post a Comment