Remember thosegun - totingrobots that were being pulled out of Iraq because they were moving when they were n’t commanded ? Well , according to their manufacturer it ’s all “ an urban legend ” — the SWORD robot is not cash in one’s chips to reel around and orient its gas at friendly … it ’s fine’n’dandy and still deploy in the champaign . Phew . Looks like our soldiers are dependable from a robot rising for now . But where did the original story come from ? UPDATED
https://gizmodo.com/combat-robot-attempts-rebellion-against-human-masters-i-378523
Popular Mechanics originally report that “ SWORDS was jerk because it made people nervous ” based partially on a conversation with Army spokesman Kevin Fahey . He was talking about instances where SWORDS golem had swung around without being dominate to do so : “ the gun start out moving when it was not intended to move , ” and that ’s potentially dangerous when it ’s control and favorable soldier are nearby .
But Cynthia Black , a representative for the robot - makers Foster Miller , points out that there have only actually been three “ uncommanded motion ” incidents . One involving a loose wire , one a broken solder joint and one where a burn off - out motor caused a robot to slue backwards down a pitcher’s mound . Both the wiring fault and bonding error have been fixed , by treble - soldering and extra circuits , and there ’s nothing much anyone could do about the third trouble . All three event were prior to its safety credential .
Sound a chip dubious , since it ’s their robot they ’re endeavor to defend ? Well , even Kevin Fahey himself , in a email to Danger Room now says “ SWORD is still deployed ” and that the Army is going to expand the utilisation of robots like it .
There ’s one more fact that squashes the “ Terminator ” label the robots have been given : they ca n’t provoke their weapon without direct orders . And it would take a heck of a sequence of malfunctions for it to point the wrong agency and fire at our own guys all by itself . Thank goodness they did n’t build AI into them , hey ? [ Danger Room ]
Update : Popular Mechanics has a newfangled article online that set the record straight . fundamentally , as we account here , the robots are working well , are still deployed in Iraq , and set no safety machine threat to their operators . And there are only three deployed in any shell . Read ithere .
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