When we hear about news related to robots on the Internet, they usually arouse in us awe or laughter. Machines can surprise us with their amazing abilities or disappoint us with their awkwardness. The sight of a robot dog with a mounted sniper rifle, however, is something else entirely.
Ghost Robotics, a company that builds robots, has created a four-legged machine with a sniper rifle mounted on it. It was created in collaboration with weapons manufacturer SWORD International. Robot-dog was given the name Special Purpose Unmanned Rifle (SPUR) and a 6.5mm Creedmoor sniper rifle. This is the first machine from Ghost Robotic to be equipped with real weapons. Unarmed models called Q-UGVs are already in limited use by the United States Air Force.
The lethal machine was presented at an exhibition of the Association of the United States Army, an organization that works with the US military. However, we do not know many details about the capabilities of the machine. The creators only informed that the person operating the robot can remotely fire one bullet or empty the magazine. The weapon mounted on the machine has a silencer to make it difficult for the enemy to locate the place of the shot. SPUR can hit a target located at a distance of 1.2 km.
SPUR machines are not yet equipped by any army, but it seems to be only a matter of time. However, the consequences of using armed robots are difficult to predict. The chances of the world being dominated by them seem small, but there are many other threats.
Military interventions by world powers could become much more common when they do not involve risking the lives of their own citizens. Such robots could also make it easier for bloody dictators to maintain control over their populations. How will it all turn out? We’ll probably find out in 10-20 years.
This is really scary. Imagine if someone builds a malicious AI… Unfortunately, this will probably be the new way terrorists will start to attack.