Saturday, August 18, 2007

Iraq: a New Petri Disk for the Militarily Insane

First Armed Robots on Patrol in Iraq (Updated)

By Noah Shachtman

Swords Robots have been roaming the streets of Iraq, since shortly after the war began. Now, for the first time -- the first time in any warzone -- the machines are carrying guns.

After years of development, three "special weapons observation remote reconnaissance direct action system" (SWORDS) robots have deployed to Iraq, armed with M249 machine guns. The 'bots "haven't fired their weapons yet," Michael Zecca, the SWORDS program manager, tells DANGER ROOM. "But that'll be happening soon."

The SWORDS -- modified versions of bomb-disposal robots used throughout Iraq -- were first declared ready for duty back in 2004. But concerns about safety kept the robots from being sent over the the battlefield. The machines had a tendency to spin out of control from time to time. That was an annoyance during ordnance-handling missions; no one wanted to contemplate the consequences during a firefight.



So the radio-controlled robots were retooled, for greater safety. In the past, weak signals would keep the robots from getting orders for as much as eight seconds -- a significant lag during combat. Now, the SWORDS won't act on a command, unless it's received right away. A three-part arming process -- with both physical and electronic safeties -- is required before firing. Most importantly, the machines now come with kill switches, in case there's any odd behavior. "So now we can kill the unit if it goes crazy," Zecca says.

As initially reported in National Defense magazine, only three of the robots are currently in Iraq. Zecca says he's ready to send more, "but we don't have the money. It's not a priority for the Army, yet." He believes that'll change, once the robots begin getting into firefights.

Original article posted here.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

mullah cimoc say ameriki need for remember when usa finally leaving the vietnam.

how long take for peace coming after usa kick out of saigon? A: three day then the peace of 36 yr and not have the problem.

usa govt make all same lie during vietnam war. need stay and kill more gook until all stable.

usa now punish for the cruel and the torutre and also for the be obedient slave of israeli and losing the soul.

now ameriki him woman all the slut take the LBT (low back tattoo) and sex with evry man even gang member. him so ashame now. and the wife become the lesbian and kick man from the house him owning. this wicked and for punuish amneriki man, not have full size gonad and let usa govt the war crime.

every ameriki son him the gay homosexual. ameriki not have the happy family or the grandchild so beautiful. ameriki woman just have the dog. also ameriki killing 52 million baby with the abortion kill now need aztec and maya for repopulate land. soon exteinction ameriki because not breed him woman.

Da Weaz said...

Pretty funny.