4 ms·

I just don't see any world in which we don't end up with at least largely autonomous, armed robots in the relatively near future. Look at the soldiers with the

I just don't see any world in which we don't end up with at least largely autonomous, armed robots in the relatively near future. Look at the soldiers with the big gun in the picture in the article - they look like teenagers. It's just so much easier to make the case that arming robots will mean people's kids don't get shot than it is to make the case that maybe these robots will turn on us and kill us, sci-fi style. Add to that the fact that if China has autonomous fighting robots, we're more or less forced into it - I think at this point it's probably more useful to be resigned to the fact that this is the future of war, as that'll at least let us focus on how to make sure we've got the best autonomous robots with guns and the best possible control over them.

remarkEon 3y ago
>Look at the soldiers with the big gun in the picture in the article - they look like teenagers. Eh, yeah, they always look young. The issue with that "big gun" is that it's a larger round, so it's about 2 lbs heavier than the M4, which it is replacing[1]. With all things like this, the answer is to get in the gym. Anyway, I've been around an early version of these "dog" robots and have friends that have been around them more recently. They are loud. There's no noise discipline with these things, so until that's addressed somehow their use case is going to be limited to instances where that does not matter. Interestingly, I think it starts to matter not, the more these robots are used. The future (maybe present, in Ukraine) battlefield is trenches with a constant "neeeeeee" and vreeeeeee" in the air as these dogs and drones move in and out of earshot. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XM7_rifle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XM7_rifle
- somerandomqaguy 3y ago
  I wonder if it's more intended to be used for additional perimeter security. I doubt they're going to be making as much noise if they're just hunkered down in a fox hole with only a small periscope peeking out, and then just have it make noise when it pops up to engage.
  - remarkEon 3y ago
    The noise was from the various systems that operate the legs and gyros to maintain balance, so it's only generated when it's in a mode for actively traversing terrain. If it's in "peek" mode, it would probably be pretty quiet. Regardless, I don't think one cares too much about noise in the trench. Maybe they do, never fought in one.
rascul 3y ago
> Look at the soldiers with the big gun in the picture in the article - they look like teenagers. I think 17 is the youngest the US military will accept.
slim 3y ago
the only case for robots having legs instead of wheel os for them to fire guns
- defrost 3y ago
  Rushed to comment? The specific reason for Boston Dynamics to develop four legged robot dogs is agility over broken terrain. If wheeled robots become the norm it'll just be Dr Who and the Daleks all over again; Quick, run upstairs (or other wheel defeating tactics).

remarkEon 3y ago

>Look at the soldiers with the big gun in the picture in the article - they look like teenagers. Eh, yeah, they always look young. The issue with that "big gun" is that it's a larger round, so it's about 2 lbs heavier than the M4, which it is replacing[1]. With all things like this, the answer is to get in the gym. Anyway, I've been around an early version of these "dog" robots and have friends that have been around them more recently. They are loud. There's no noise discipline with these things, so until that's addressed somehow their use case is going to be limited to instances where that does not matter. Interestingly, I think it starts to matter not, the more these robots are used. The future (maybe present, in Ukraine) battlefield is trenches with a constant "neeeeeee" and vreeeeeee" in the air as these dogs and drones move in and out of earshot. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XM7_rifle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XM7_rifle

somerandomqaguy 3y ago
I wonder if it's more intended to be used for additional perimeter security. I doubt they're going to be making as much noise if they're just hunkered down in a fox hole with only a small periscope peeking out, and then just have it make noise when it pops up to engage.
- remarkEon 3y ago
  The noise was from the various systems that operate the legs and gyros to maintain balance, so it's only generated when it's in a mode for actively traversing terrain. If it's in "peek" mode, it would probably be pretty quiet. Regardless, I don't think one cares too much about noise in the trench. Maybe they do, never fought in one.

rascul 3y ago

> Look at the soldiers with the big gun in the picture in the article - they look like teenagers. I think 17 is the youngest the US military will accept.

slim 3y ago

the only case for robots having legs instead of wheel os for them to fire guns

defrost 3y ago
Rushed to comment? The specific reason for Boston Dynamics to develop four legged robot dogs is agility over broken terrain. If wheeled robots become the norm it'll just be Dr Who and the Daleks all over again; Quick, run upstairs (or other wheel defeating tactics).