DARPA Orders Smart Robotic Terminator Hands for a Better Tomorrow

By Jeremy Hsu Posted 02.24.2010 at 3:48 pm 8 Comments

Terminator's Arm My CPU is a neural net processor; a learning computer.

Pentagon mad scientists at DARPA have continued on their quest to create killer robots by announcing a new plan for "robotic autonomous manipulators" that can emulate human hands. And by killer, we of course mean awesome. National Defense reports that the DARPA program aims to create inexpensive robotic hands that can perhaps also replace existing prosthetics for amputees.

Engineers can already design specialized robotic arms better suited for any number of specific tasks than human hands. But DARPA specifically hopes to see arms and hands that can mimic the general adaptability and flexibility of human hands. That means the main challenge rests with the software that provides the brains behind smart robotic arms and hands.

Just to get a sense of what DARPA expects, the agency has laid out three tasks for any would-be robot hands. A robot must first be able to unzip a duffel bag and search through clothing and other materials for a hidden revolver -- a challenge that requires both the ability to "feel" objects and coordination among two hands.

A second task involves removing odd-shaped rubble with both arms in a search-and-rescue scenario. Finally, a third challenge requires the robot arms to place one object inside anothe -- for instance loading a shell into a mortar. The latter seems to have fairly obvious military implications.

Existing battlefield robots still look more like specialized weapons of war rather than humanoid terminators. And the humanoid bots that do look like terminators still struggle to even play ping pong, let alone wage war with two hands.

Still, DARPA's tech push clearly seems to be steering us toward a future where Terminator-style robots aren't such an unexpected sight -- that is, if the bioengineered replicants don't rise up first.

[via National Defense]

Previous Article: South Korean Robot English Teachers Are Go

Next Article: The Present and Future of Unmanned Drone Aircraft: An Illustrated Field Guide

8 Comments

Link to this comment

caradoc01

02/24/10 at 4:58 pm

ALL HAIL OUR ROBOT OVERLORDS!!!!!

Wheeeee!

Link to this comment

mitEj

02/25/10 at 8:52 am

Its cyborgs not robots. :)

And the requirements makes it sound a little like they want to send amputees back into active duty.

interesting.

Cyberpunk 2020 Woot!

Link to this comment

lokimotion

02/25/10 at 10:20 am

We're heading towards Terminator 3 lmao.

Link to this comment

musashi.m

02/27/10 at 12:27 am

It would be great if wars were fought with robots. Nations could show their strength with robot brutality and spare human life. Or better yet, it could be like a Surrogates/Avatar thing where people plug into their alternate robotic or uh, Na'vi "self" I wonder how different humanity would be if we started living vicariously through another being.

Link to this comment

RiverWaffleDonkey

03/05/10 at 8:27 pm

I think this is a cool idea. Robots can be a big help to us. Robotic body parts could be a big help too. They could help people who have been in wars and lost body parts. Robots can also be used for daily chores around the house, they could clean up or do dishes.

Link to this comment

killersquirel11

03/11/10 at 1:06 pm

This brings a whole new meaning to a solderer's "third hand"

Link to this comment

pklett92

03/13/10 at 7:53 pm

I've noticed that everything that involves advanced technology beyond our grasp seems to show up in movies these days...Like Iron man for instance...However I have a different thought right now...what if scientists started creating new gadgets,and auto's by mimicking the shapes and behaviors of natural life...Like aviation that involves studying the flight of beetles, and the organs that power that flight, and then copying that design to create the ultimate in fast aviation. those wings would flap pretty quick and thank you beetle for showing us how to create this without the tech breaking down because of the wear and tear due to the shear speed...

Link to this comment

thepainfultruth

04/07/10 at 4:45 pm

If war was to be fought with robots, then it would become meaningless, for it would then come down to whoever has the deeper pockets to fork over the money to build and program the machines to march to war. If this were to come to pass, 'Terminator 3' would become a horrific reality. I would also check into the 'Matrix' series backstory for an alternative possibility.