Comments on: Our robot overlords

By: Timothy C. Phillips

Timothy C. Phillips — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 05:30:44 +0000

What we need to realize is that this is the Model A. A new Pandora’s box has been opened on the world. With armies all over the world engaged in scaling down their forces for the next world conflict, and reorganizing in an attempt to maximize cost versus effectiveness, an explosion of battlefield robotics is undoubtedly close at hand.

Envision larger, armored up, heavily armed, and much more advanced, versions of Big Dog, and I believe creepiness will give way to fear.

Think of it. Battalions of soldiers that never tire, do not hunger or thirst, and feel no pain or remorse…that just be the most daunting development since the atomic bomb; look at the myriad complexities its development and use created. Pandora’s box, indeed.

By: snerd

snerd — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 05:30:20 +0000

Dear future robot overlords, please be kind and merciful masters to our poor ape race. Also, please do not eviscerate us and use our cyborg husks to build pandimensional skyscrapers.

By: Ze Kraggash

Ze Kraggash — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 05:18:53 +0000

Wow, this seems to be the an early version of Rincewind’s “Luggage” from Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series. Now they just have to make the inside bigger than the outside…

By: Ted Judah

Ted Judah — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 07:33:16 +0000

Interesting look at the robots’ predecessor:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXJZVZFRFJc

By: Chip

Chip — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 05:32:12 +0000

Many have welcomed the robot overlords but, as the ancient Greeks warned, one should be careful what one wishes for – (you may get it.) Behold: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WHQI5iKYfM&feature=related

By: Paul

Paul — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 02:55:10 +0000

This is pretty freaky.

By: Gustav Nyström

Gustav Nyström — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 20:57:07 +0000

I, too, was extremely creeped-out at first by this robot, but when that guy push-kicked it in the side my
emotional response was not unlike pity.

On the topic of utilitarian applications for the robot; uses as an military-mule or wheelchair-replacement, has already been mentioned. I was thinking it probably could be put to good use in disaster areas, and not just battlefields, to transport supplies, medicin and wounded people. But, as it has already been mentioned, they would have to work on the robots image. A scary-sounding killer-machine won’t just cut it as a paramedic.