Robot-Cannon Kills Nine People

[Robert_Moriyama]

This would be the Terminator Model 0...

Robot-Cannon Kills Nine People
Posted Oct 19th 2007 8:46AM by Tim Stevens
Filed under: Computers

It's one thing to make (tasteless) jokes about exploding cell phones being the ultimate cause of human extinction, but when a robotic device seemingly goes out of its way to kill its operators, then something may be up. According to a post on Slashdot, a bug or glitch caused a robotic anti-aircraft gun In South Africa to flip out and kill nine soldiers (and injure a further 14).

Details are sparse, but a jam or internal explosion caused the gun to malfunction, resulting in it "wildly swinging" as it "sprayed hundreds of high-explosive 0.5kg 35mm cannon shells around the five-gun firing position," according to the post.

The gun is designed to automatically target aircraft, helicopters, and cruise missiles and fire when any targets come into range -- all without human intervention. The gun can even reload itself automatically when its magazines are emptied. As a result, the rogue robot gun could not be stopped before it completely ran out of ammunition, despite efforts from one brave artillery officer.

A disturbing reminder that our robotic minions are not always happy with their menial tasks and can strike at any time? Keep your eyes open, Roomba owners!

From Slashdot and Wired

[kailhofer]

Maybe we'll all need robot insurance from Old Glory. www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVnkd7ot_pw

Nate

[Robert_Moriyama]

"Danger, Will Robinson!"

Was it designed without an Emergency Stop button? All the automated machinery at the factory where I work have E-Stops anywhere a human can get close enough to get hurt. Some of them even have E-Stops in locations where a co-worker can stop the machine if someone else gets caught in machine.

Sounds like I bought that copy of "How To Survive The A Robot Uprising" just in ttime.

Dan

If you leave a patch of kudzu intact, you can always bog down any mere machine before it gets within range of Casa Vila... Not that you can entirely get rid of kudzu, short of using precision-targeted tactical nuclear weapons. (And even then, you'd just wind up with gigantic, radioactive mutant kudzu.)

Kudzu -- the unholy offspring of creeping charlie, rhubarb, dandelions, and purple loosestrife. Coming soon to a theater near you.

RM