Meet Pet-Proto, a prototype US military robot that can use autonomous decision making to navigate around and over obstacles.
Developed by Boston Dynamics – the firm behind the equally scary Big Dog robot – Pet-Proto is the latest iteration of the ATLAS humanoid military robot that is being developed through the DARPA (Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency) robotics challenge.
The aim of the $2million compeititon is stimulate the development of military humanoid robots capable of carrying out human tasks.
Great idea! A truly remarkable step in the right direction. I very much doubt any squaddie on foot patrol in Afghanistan faced with IED injury would moralise over their use.
I see them applied in primary (mining, forestry, quarrying) and secondary industries (manufacturing) releasing us from the relentless drudgery of repetitive work. The economic benefits of marketing products with zero defects and bearing 90% less labour costs militates strongly in their inevitability: failure to seize the initiative and win back our competitive manufacturing heritage isn’t an option.
Can you set the web page up to show pictures if the video cannot be accessed.