There have been robots patrol the gay sands of Iraq since the initial invasion , but until now , they ’ve merely been there to scope poppycock out . That was then , this is now . According to Noah over at the always - awe-inspiring Danger Room blog , the military has just deployed their fresh “ special weapons observation remote reconnaissance direct action system ” ( SWORDS ) that has been in development for the preceding few years . What are the SWORDS , on the dot ? Oh , just some bomb - disposal robots armed with M249 machine guns . Holy shit , robots with simple machine heavy weapon .
This is a pretty immense footfall onward for robotics in warfare . Never before have armed robots been deploy in a warfare . There are only three of them deployed at the moment , and none of them have fired any rounds yet , but Michael Zecca , the SWORDS program manager , says “ that ’ll be happening soon . ” Yikes .
In addition to the machine hitman , the brand can be loaded up with the optional X - ray kit to check out suspicious packages or to ensure the guy it just apprehended did n’t swallow a bomb calorimeter . That ’s all well and good , but just keep them over there rather than back home ; I ’ve seen the Itchy and Scratchy Land installment of The Simpsons . I know how this company is gon na terminate . [ Danger Room ]
RobotsWarfare
Daily Newsletter
Get the best tech , science , and culture news in your inbox daily .
intelligence from the futurity , deliver to your present .
You May Also Like
