Robotics, for instance, was a budding field just a couple of decades ago, but thanks to advancements in construction, artificial intelligence, materials, and programming, they are fast becoming a reality and much more.
They are going to become weapons of war, as well.
As reported by CyberNews, Boston Dynamics has shown how its leading robotic model can pull off some amazing dance moves as well as other human-like movements. But other firms are working to turn robots into killing machines.
That said, the latest models, video of which has been posted to social media, resemble something out of a sci-fi movie:
Twitter user Sean Chiplock shared a video of someone in Russia firing a gun from a quadruped robot. Sean Gallagher, a senior threat researcher at Sophos, said the robot dog is of Chinese origin.
"All the people who laughed off the 'worrywarts' years ago for freaking out about the Funny Dancing Robot Dogs (tm) should be forced to watch this video once a day for the remainder of the year," he wrote in a Twitter post containing the stunning video clip.
All the people who laughed off the “worrywarts” years ago for freaking out about the Funny Dancing Robot Dogs (tm) should be forced to watch this video once a day for the remainder of the year. pic.twitter.com/WBIrlGah3w
— Sean Chiplock (@sonicmega) July 20, 2022
"I especially love all those stray bullets being shot off at completely random angles to later strike some random citizen, because the billion-dollar-robot somehow still can't account for muzzle rebound after the shots," Gallagher added in another tweet. "Our tax dollars being put to work, with or without consent."
Meanwhile, another Twitter account called DaddyPsyops posted an even more stunning video clip of a more human-like robot being put to the test using live ammunition. The researchers are seen kicking the robot and knocking it over, hijacking it from behind, throwing up barriers and doing other drills such as taking away its weapons. The robot not only fires at targets extremely accurately, but it can also tell when not to shoot at a human or, at least, the designated human researchers.
WATCH:
That's the good doggy version, how about the Bot version? pic.twitter.com/sbLPyFWSON
— Daddy Psyops (@DaddyPsyops) July 20, 2022
As for the robot dog, CyberNews reported that it appears to resemble the Go1 robot dog model made by Unitree Robotics.
"For example, the back side of the device in the video exhibits a distinct pattern on a plastic covering between its hind legs. A similar design is visible on devices in Unitree's promotional material," the report stated. "The Hangzhou-based company is selling the Go1 model of the robot for $2,700 on its website, a fraction of over $75k that American-made Spot would cost its owner."
As noted in the video, the robotic dog does not handle the weapon's recoil very well when it is in full-auto mode, but when the gun is set to fire one round at a time, the platform appears to handle the recoil much better and is more accurate. Also, according to CyberNews, patches and insignia on the "dog" appear to indicate that it is being tested in Russia.
As for the "human" robot being put through the various shooting drills, it became obvious very quickly that the researchers definitely trusted the robot with their lives.
The fact is, whether we like it or not, these dystopian weapons platforms are coming soon to a battlefield -- or a city street -- near us. And sooner rather than later.
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