No, these aren't Human Eating Robots - Its a Vegetarian, Company Says

Biomass-Eating Military Robot Is a Vegetarian, Company Says

A steam-powered, biomass-eating military robot being designed for the Pentagon is a vegetarian, its maker says.

Robotic Technology Inc.'s Energetically Autonomous Tactical Robot — that's right, "EATR" — "can find, ingest, and extract energy from biomass in the environment (and other organically-based energy sources), as well as use conventional and alternative fuels (such as gasoline, heavy fuel, kerosene, diesel, propane, coal, cooking oil, and solar) when suitable," reads the company's Web site.

But, contrary to reports, including one that appeared on FOXNews.com, the EATR will not eat animal or human remains.

Dr. Bob Finkelstein, president of RTI and a cybernetics expert, said the EATR would be programmed to recognize specific fuel sources and avoid others.

“If it’s not on the menu, it’s not going to eat it,” Finkelstein said.

“There are certain signatures from different kinds of materials” that would distinguish vegetative biomass from other material."

RTI said Thursday in a press release:

"Despite the far-reaching reports that this includes “human bodies,” the public can be assured that the engine Cyclone (Cyclone Power Technologies Inc.) has developed to power the EATR runs on fuel no scarier than twigs, grass clippings and wood chips -- small, plant-based items for which RTI’s robotic technology is designed to forage. Desecration of the dead is a war crime under Article 15 of the Geneva Conventions, and is certainly not something sanctioned by DARPA, Cyclone or RTI."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/2009/07/16/biomass-eating-military-rob...

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Comment by Elyag Reed...We are Legion on June 2, 2018 at 12:12pm: Bright Brains also though this experiment was safe.

Not on the Menu but what if the Al picks "Add Condiments of your choice".

We are Legion and Growing...

Comment by DTOM on March 10, 2018 at 7:36pm: THEY are making no secret of the fact that THEY are creating autonomous robots that will function by consuming biomass...

These will be THEIR primary weapons systems once THEIR human merc and proxy cannon fodder are exhausted, designed to target anyone that resists - do you really think there will be some cutesy Asimov-esque 3 Laws Of Robotics OS that these things will adhere to?

Extrapolate, based on similar AI developments - it does not look good

http://12160.info/group/beyond-high-tech

http://12160.info/group/attack-of-the-drones

Comment by dogitydog on March 10, 2018 at 2:07pm: "is certainly not something sanctioned by DARPA"

The same DARPA that covertly conducts genetic experiments on animals and humans in the lab creating animal-human hybrids? Some of which have either escaped or were intentionally released? No, DARPA wouldn't sanction a flesh eating robot. That would be morally and ethically wrong.

Comment by Chris of the family Masters on March 10, 2018 at 1:38pm: I don't think the pirates care for Geneva Convention, or any other, for that matter.