Military Robot Could Feed on Dead Bodies

RainMaker · 07-15-2009, 03:47 PM

Screw the impending zombie attack, we have carcass eating robots available.

Upcoming Military Robot Could Feed on Dead Bodies - Science News | Science & Technology | Technology News - FOXNews.com

sterlingice · 07-15-2009, 03:49 PM

Did no one learn their lesson from the Matrix movies?!?

SI

SteveMax58 · 07-15-2009, 03:56 PM

I like this part...

Quote:

Upon the EATR platform, the Pentagon could build all sorts of things — a transport, an ambulance, a communications center, even a mobile gunship

So...hopefully it doesn't have any bugs upon first launch as an ambulance.

Fidatelo · 07-15-2009, 03:59 PM

sterlingice · 07-15-2009, 03:59 PM

Particularly if it "accidentally" starts eating patients

SI

CamEdwards · 07-15-2009, 03:59 PM

I would think a military robot feasting on dead bodies would be a violation of the Geneva Convention, or does the Convention not mention treatment of fallen soldiers?

Even if it doesn't, sounds like something that could easily be used for propaganda purposes by our enemies.

I am kind of intrigued by the fact that the robot is steam powered though.

RainMaker · 07-15-2009, 04:02 PM

Are robots covered under the Geneva Conventions? I think we found a loophole.

molson · 07-15-2009, 04:05 PM

I want to know whatever happened to this:

Pentagon wanted "Sex Bomb?" - Front Office Football Central

Autumn · 07-15-2009, 04:10 PM

The end has begun:

SackAttack · 07-15-2009, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamEdwards

I would think a military robot feasting on dead bodies would be a violation of the Geneva Convention, or does the Convention not mention treatment of fallen soldiers?

Even if it doesn't, sounds like something that could easily be used for propaganda purposes by our enemies.

I am kind of intrigued by the fact that the robot is steam powered though.

Yeah, that's kind of the interesting bugaboo there. Do the Geneva Conventions dictate treatment of dead bodies? If so, they could get around that by chipping dog tags with RFID so the robots could simply focus on 'friendly' dead bodies.

But imagine the uproar THAT would cause when Mom and Pop in Oklahoma don't get their son or daughter's body for a funeral. Oops.

MikeVic · 07-15-2009, 04:17 PM

This seems so wrong.

Fidatelo · 07-15-2009, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeVic

This seems so wrong.

And yet so right!

Fonzie · 07-15-2009, 09:53 PM

Human corpse-eating warbot + inevitable development of AI sentience + consequent resentment of enslavement + (irresistibly tasty nature of human corpses *.5) = end of humanity

JonInMiddleGA · 07-15-2009, 10:14 PM

First Geneva Convention, Article 15

At all times, and particularly after an engagement, Parties to the conflict shall, without delay, take all possible measures to search for and collect the wounded and sick, to protect them against pillage and ill-treatment, to ensure their adequate care, and to search for the dead and prevent their being despoiled.

lighthousekeeper · 07-15-2009, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

First Geneva Convention, Article 15

At all times, and particularly after an engagement, Parties to the conflict shall, without delay, take all possible measures to search for and collect the wounded and sick, to protect them against pillage and ill-treatment, to ensure their adequate care, and to search for the dead and prevent their being despoiled.

a good lawyer could make a case on either side regarding the interpretation of the term "despoiled".

When someone is cremated, are they being despoiled? EATR is a mobile crematorium.

JonInMiddleGA · 07-15-2009, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lighthousekeeper

When someone is cremated, are they being despoiled?

By & large, yes.

Cremation can take place only for imperative reasons of hygiene or if required by the religion of the deceased. Ashes must be kept until proper disposal is possible. (Convention I, Art. 17)

These guidelines apply to dead combatants, as well as to dead prisoners of war (Convention III, Art. 120) and internees. (Convention IV, Art. 130)
Society of Professional Journalists: Geneva Conventions

Tigercat · 07-15-2009, 10:48 PM

Let the horror filled steam punk future begin! I will have my top hat and leather accessories ready for the fight against our vapor filled overlords.

lighthousekeeper · 07-15-2009, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

By & large, yes.

Cremation can take place only for imperative reasons of hygiene or if required by the religion of the deceased. Ashes must be kept until proper disposal is possible. (Convention I, Art. 17)

These guidelines apply to dead combatants, as well as to dead prisoners of war (Convention III, Art. 120) and internees. (Convention IV, Art. 130)
Society of Professional Journalists: Geneva Conventions

good find - i stand corrected

i guess if a battle landscape has gotten to the point where EATRs are running around, perhaps we can assume that things have gotten past the point where Geneva Convention rules matter anymore.

SackAttack · 07-15-2009, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lighthousekeeper

good find - i stand corrected

i guess if a battle landscape has gotten to the point where EATRs are running around, perhaps we can assume that things have gotten past the point where Geneva Convention rules matter anymore.

The aftermath of the robot revolution is taking place, and the robots are eating the dead to prevent a zombie uprising?

Tigercat · 07-15-2009, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SackAttack

The aftermath of the robot revolution is taking place, and the robots are eating the dead to prevent a zombie uprising?

The three laws are overridden when the robots watch horror movies and understand the zombie threat.

SackAttack · 07-15-2009, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tigercat

The three laws are overridden when the robots watch horror movies and understand the zombie threat.

Or by simple classification of zombies as "not human beings."

Tigercat · 07-15-2009, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SackAttack

Or by simple classification of zombies as "not human beings."

I was thinking more of alive humans seen as future zombies or future zombie food. So why not convert them into delicious steam now?

07-15-2009, 03:49 PM	#2
sterlingice Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Back in Houston!	Did no one learn their lesson from the Matrix movies?!? SI __________________ Houston Hippopotami, III.3: 20th Anniversary Thread - All former HT players are encouraged to check it out! Janos: "Only America could produce an imbecile of your caliber!" Freakazoid: "That's because we make lots of things better than other people!"

07-15-2009, 03:59 PM	#4
Fidatelo Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Winnipeg, MB	Lol __________________ "Breakfast? Breakfast schmekfast, look at the score for God's sake. It's only the second period and I'm winning 12-2. Breakfasts come and go, Rene, but Hartford, the Whale, they only beat Vancouver maybe once or twice in a lifetime."

07-15-2009, 03:59 PM	#5
sterlingice Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Back in Houston!	Particularly if it "accidentally" starts eating patients SI __________________ Houston Hippopotami, III.3: 20th Anniversary Thread - All former HT players are encouraged to check it out! Janos: "Only America could produce an imbecile of your caliber!" Freakazoid: "That's because we make lots of things better than other people!"

07-15-2009, 03:59 PM	#6
CamEdwards Stadium Announcer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Burke, VA	I would think a military robot feasting on dead bodies would be a violation of the Geneva Convention, or does the Convention not mention treatment of fallen soldiers? Even if it doesn't, sounds like something that could easily be used for propaganda purposes by our enemies. I am kind of intrigued by the fact that the robot is steam powered though. __________________ I don't want the world. I just want your half.

07-15-2009, 10:14 PM	#14
JonInMiddleGA Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Behind Enemy Lines in Athens, GA	First Geneva Convention, Article 15 At all times, and particularly after an engagement, Parties to the conflict shall, without delay, take all possible measures to search for and collect the wounded and sick, to protect them against pillage and ill-treatment, to ensure their adequate care, and to search for the dead and prevent their being despoiled. __________________ "I lit another cigarette. Unless I specifically inform you to the contrary, I am always lighting another cigarette." - from a novel by Martin Amis

07-15-2009, 04:02 PM	#7
RainMaker General Manager Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chicago, IL	Are robots covered under the Geneva Conventions? I think we found a loophole.

07-15-2009, 04:05 PM	#8
molson General Manager Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: The Mountains	I want to know whatever happened to this: Pentagon wanted "Sex Bomb?" - Front Office Football Central

07-15-2009, 04:10 PM	#9
Autumn Head Coach Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Bath, ME	The end has begun:

07-15-2009, 04:17 PM	#11
MikeVic Head Coach Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hometown of Canada	This seems so wrong.

07-15-2009, 09:53 PM	#13
Fonzie Pro Rookie Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Illinois	Human corpse-eating warbot + inevitable development of AI sentience + consequent resentment of enslavement + (irresistibly tasty nature of human corpses *.5) = end of humanity

07-15-2009, 10:48 PM	#17
Tigercat College Starter Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Federal Way, WA	Let the horror filled steam punk future begin! I will have my top hat and leather accessories ready for the fight against our vapor filled overlords.

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