| Try to imagine a soldier that doesn't sleep, doesn't eat, | | | | Apart from the amazing ability of packing so much |
| doesn't feel pain, and doesn't waste time on doing | | | | weapons and ammo, this robot is also extremely |
| exactly what it was made to do; eliminate the enemy. | | | | accurate when firing at enemies. It is said that while a |
| This is SWORDS; the first-ever weaponized robot the | | | | typical soldier can hit a target the size of basketball |
| world has seen. Time magazine even referred to it as, | | | | from 300 meters away, SWORDS can hit a target |
| "One of the greatest inventions of the 21st century. ... It | | | | the size of nickel from 500 meters away. This far |
| can be outfitted with everything from a machine gun | | | | better level of accuracy is due to the fact that its gun |
| to a rocket or grenade launcher, seriously violating | | | | is mounted on a stable platform and fired electronically |
| Asimov's three laws of robotics." | | | | using cameras with multiple zoom, rather than by a |
| What does it do? | | | | soldier's hands and limited vision. |
| Short for Special Weapons Observation | | | | Running on lithium ion batteries, SWORDS can be |
| Reconnaissance Detection Systems, SWORDS is | | | | operated using a 30-pound control unit from a distance |
| developed by TALON Robotics at Foster-Miller, a | | | | of approximately 20 football fields. |
| company based in Massachusetts. This $200,000, | | | | Why do we need it? |
| three-foot 100-pound armed robot can go underwater, | | | | Though the robot is roughly only three-feet high, it |
| climb stairs, and navigate through sand, snow, rock and | | | | possesses all the necessary skills and traits of a great |
| fire at an even faster pace than a typical running | | | | soldier, and completely lacks the insignificant details of |
| soldier. It has both night and infrared vision, and has | | | | a terrible one. It can execute missions that are too |
| four cameras strategically located at the front, back | | | | dangerous for regular soldiers, as it can withstand both |
| and both sides with extremely detailed zooming | | | | extremely cold and hot temperatures. Further, it doesn't |
| capabilities. | | | | need to be trained, clothed or fed. It doesn't get injured |
| It will also carry multiple standard Squad Automatic | | | | easily but if it does, it never complains. Most importantly, |
| Weapons, including the M249, which fires | | | | there wouldn't be families and relatives left in total grief |
| 5.56-millimeter rounds at 750 per minute and M240, | | | | in the event it meets its demise in battle. |
| which can fire 1,000 7.62-millimeter rounds per minute. | | | | When will it be on active duty? |