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from the Sit!-Stay!-Aim!-Shoot!-Good(?)-doggie! dept.
Uh Oh, They Strapped a Sniper Rifle to a Robot Dog:
For years, we've been warning that it was only a matter of time — and now, the inevitable has happened.
Somebody strapped an honest-to-god sniper rifle to the back of a quadrupedal robot dog.
An image shared on Twitter by military robot maker Ghost Robotics shows the terrifying contraption in all its dystopian glory.
Latest lethality 6.5 #creedmoor sniper payload from @SWORDINT. Check out the latest partner payloads @AUSAorg Wash DC. Keeping US and allied #sof #warfighter equipped with the latest innovations. @USSOCOM #defense #defence #NationalSecurity #drone #robotics pic.twitter.com/Dvk6OvL3Bu
— Ghost Robotics (@Ghost_Robotics) October 11, 2021
[...] There's a lot we don't know about the machine, but according to an Instagram post by Sword International, a gun manufacturer, the machine is called the SPUR or Special Purpose Unmanned Rifle.
More at the Sword's website [Ed Comment: Link is sometimes giving 404 since this story was released--JR].
(Score: 4, Insightful) by DannyB on Thursday October 14 2021, @02:11PM (2 children)
What I don't understand is why there is no IoT involved with this?
Imagine the good that could come from having this kind of robot controlled through the convenience and security we've come to expect from IoT.
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Immerman on Thursday October 14 2021, @02:41PM (1 child)
How do you know there isn't?
They mention they don't know whether it's remotely operated or autonomous, but my guess would be that even in the unlikely event that they let an autonomous killing machine loose on the battlefield, they'd still want the option of remote operation for strategic applications and emergency override, which would probably make it an I(di)oT device. Not like there's a whole lot of point in having a robot sniper operated by a nearby sniper - snipers already stay far from the action.
Now, probably it has a point-and-click interface so any idiot who can click a target can snipe with it effectively, but you still don't want some idiot sitting around the battlefield staring at a video screen. Not when a different idiot a continent away can be doing the same thing without risking their life or requiring all the expennsive logistics support of a man on the ground.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Thursday October 14 2021, @03:11PM
I wonder if we should place bets that this thing is remotely operated using a familiar common game controller?
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.