Not fully automated. These may be autonomously driving, but not autonomously shooting. The article hints that that is technically possible, but also states that it is not implemented.
This classic scene from Robocop seems apt...<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mqDjcGgE5I" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mqDjcGgE5I</a>
It looks like we don't have to wait for SkyNET to produce an army of robots and autonomous vehicles with guns.<p>We make them ourselves, against ourselves.<p>Can't wait to see someone hacking these machines and turn them against their former owners.
I would be more impressed if their opponent were more technically sophisticated.<p>You have people pretending to build a tank on one hand and people with automated robots on the other? Seems a bit overkill and pointless IMHO.
A brainwashed suicide bomber is not much different from an autonomous bio-robot.<p>Indoctrination [1] doesn't let you question or criticize your programming, unlike modified Asimov's Laws [2].<p>[1] <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indoctrination" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indoctrination</a><p>[2] <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Laws_of_Robotics" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Laws_of_Robotics</a>
A potential advantage or military robots is you could make them non or less fatal. In Aleppo type situations robots might be able to taser and arrest people instead of trying to kill them.
I wonder what the cost differential between The Trump Wall, and autonomous vehicle patrols would be.<p>Electric vehicles with solar charging would be very cost-effective as a border security mechanism.<p>Where are all the border security startups? Lots of government cash on the table I would think.
10 Initiate provocations in Gaza<p>20 Run live tests on technology<p>30 Use the proof of real life usage in a low boil conflict to sell the technology at international arms fairs.<p>40 Use realistic test conditions to refine & develop new technology for 2 years.<p>50 GOTO 10<p>This efficient QA/development cycle is a serious competitive advantage, since it's hard for other countries to replicate the same controlled conflict conditions. Hence these great sales figures: <a href="https://rwer.wordpress.com/2016/01/12/the-15-largest-arms-exporters-per-capita/" rel="nofollow">https://rwer.wordpress.com/2016/01/12/the-15-largest-arms-ex...</a><p>And it's been ~2 years since the last conflict, so...: <a href="http://europe.newsweek.com/us-calls-americans-leave-gaza-soon-possible-492974?rm=eu" rel="nofollow">http://europe.newsweek.com/us-calls-americans-leave-gaza-soo...</a>