DARPA Synthetic Robots to Become Next Generation Fighting Forces

Susanne Posel
Occupy Corporatism
December 20, 2012

The US government, in collaboration with private sector defense corporations, is building the next generation synthetic robotic fighting forces and indestructible drones that will conduct surveillance, and become instant judge, jury and executioner.

The newest in drone technology has created aerial craft that can fly for an “unlimited amount of time” because of “hot swapping” batteries at designated base stations.

Earlier this year, DARPA release footage of its AlphaDog that is a three-legged robot that can overcome difficult terrain; following soldiers through any battlefield conditions.

DARPA has other robotic inventions that are nearly autonomous, interpreting verbal and visual commands:

• Robot pack mule
• Shape changing chameleon robot that has camouflage capabilities

Another of DARPA’s interests into robotics is the Avatar for the allocation of bi-pedal robots and essential super-soldiers and has devoted $7 million of its $2.8 billion 2012 budget to developing “interfaces and algorithms to enable a soldier to effectively partner with a semi-autonomous bi-pedal machine and allow it to act as the soldier’s surrogate.”

The Pentagon has developed a Multi-Robot Pursuit System that utilizes “software and sensor package to enable a team of robots to search for and detect human presence in an indoor environment”. By remote-control, soldiers can use these semi-autonomous robots to research areas of interest before human investigations are conducted.

Because of the risks involved in rescue aid workers and human response teams, DARPA awarded Boston Dynamics, Inc. a $10.9 million contract to manufacture humanoid robots that are bi-pedal, built like humans and have a sensor head with on-board computing capabilities. Completion of the project is expected for August of 2014.

These robots are being created to assist in excavation and rescue missions, according to DARPA. They could also be employed to evacuation operations during either man-made or natural disasters.

In the wake of Sandy, the Pentagon has requested that a team of “rescue robots” be engineered in time for the next “natural disaster”. The DARPA Robotics Challenge is putting out the call for a synthetic force that can be designed for autonomous thought; yet mitigate the risk to human life when preforming a rescue mission.

According to Defense Advance Research Projects Agency (DARPA): “Our best robotic tools are helping, but they are not yet robust enough to function in all environments and perform the basic tasks needed to mitigate a crisis situation. Even in degraded post-disaster situations, the environment is scaled to the human world, requiring navigation of human obstacles such as doors and stairs, manipulation of human objects such as vehicles and power tools, and recognition of common human objects such as levers and valves.”

Scientists have equipped cockroaches with computerized “back-packs” that are remotely controlled. This government-funded research claims that these insects could be used in search and rescue missions.

The Dynamic Anthropomorphic Robot with Intelligence (DARwin) was developed by Virginia Tech Robots and Mechanisms Laboratory (RML). These humanoid robots are bipedal and can mimic human mannerisms. These robots can play ball and interact with humans in a familiar way.

Noel Sharkey, professor of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics at Sheffield University warns that globalist think-tanks and the rise of the military industrial complex will culminate in the creation of synthetic armies that could turn on their creators should they be equipped with autonomous thought programing. Sharkey explains: “With the current prices of robot construction falling dramatically and the availability of ready-made components for the amateur market, it wouldn’t require a lot of skill to make autonomous robot weapons.”

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has released a report entitled “Losing Humanity: The Case Against Killer Robots” which warns that autonomous synthetic armed forces lack conscious empathy that human soldiers have and could perform lethal missions without provocation.

Autonomous synthetic robots used as weapons cannot inherently conform to “the requirements of international humanitarian law” as they cannot adequately distinguish “between soldiers and civilians on the battlefield or apply the human judgment necessary to evaluate the proportionality of an attack – whether civilian harm outweighs military advantage.”

The HRW report states: “Human emotions provide one of the best safeguards against killing civilians, and a lack of emotion can make killing easier. Emotions should be viewed as central to restraint in war.”

Indeed, the responsibility factor is questionable on a legal stand-point because who is ultimately responsible for the actions of a synthetic armed force robot? Would the ultimate charge fall to the:

• Commander
• Programmer
• Manufacturer

The beginning stages of the global Elite’s visions for “robots to hunt down humans like a pack of dogs” are becoming a reality. These robots will be armed and autonomous. Their cranium sensors will be able to “detect human breath and the radio waves associated with a human heart beat.”

A force of robotic “peacekeepers” that are programed to become violent without remorse – will enable the government to organize and act where human law enforcement may hesitate.

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