Word: robotics
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With some estimates of armed robots with so-called autonomous navigation systems less than five years away, the U.S. Army is drafting a white paper to set guidelines for their use. "This is a concept paper to think about war-fighting outcomes and what robotics will do for soldiers," says U.S. Lieut. General Michael Vane, who directs the Army Capabilities Integration Center in Fort Monroe, Va. "I am starting out with the idea of having a technology-enabled human. [But] we might someday come up with [separate] IT doctrine and robot doctrine." He reiterates that "we want to make...
...approaching when the U.S. military can deploy a robot that can drive itself around a corner, use senors to detect an enemy fighter on the move and destroy targets instantly with missiles and machine guns - all without human intervention? The Pentagon thinks the day may be imminent, and it wants to ensure that its technology doesn't get ahead of military doctrine. It wants to be certain that there is always a human making decisions regarding the use of lethal force...
Computer algorithms are advancing to the point where prototype robots like the Army's Multi-Utility Logistics Equipment (MULE) vehicle are able to cross barriers and navigate obstacles without human guidance. The MULE - a 14-ft.-long, six-wheeled robot equipped with a range of navigational sensors slated to deploy with U.S. forces 2015 - will eventually carry Javelin antitank missiles and M240 machine guns. The MULE could well carry supplies and conduct reconnaissance missions for light infantry units in difficult terrain like Afghanistan. It is programmed with onboard computers so that the vehicle can find its own way around corners...
...MULE has crossed over highway barriers in New Jersey by itself in testing. In a few years, the robot will be able to drive itself with onboard computers, navigate its way around obstacles while using sensors to beam back images of the surrounding terrain and, ultimately, fire deadly weapons on targets identified by the sensors. This last portion of the MULE's abilities - namely the capability of using lethal force by itself upon enemies - is of particular concern for the Army...
...first to use the throne - a flush toilet was found in a tomb of a Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C. to A.D. 24) king - and they invented toilet paper in the 6th century. Modern Toilet owner Wang Zi-wei, 29, an ex-banker, got his idea from the Japanese robot cartoon character Jichiwawa, who loves to play with poop and swirl it on a stick. Inspired by that image, Wang began selling chocolate ice cream swirls on paper squat toilets. Customers loved them and wanted more edible excretion experiences, so he opened Modern Toilet in 2004. The theme-restaurant chain...