Airsoft Roomba kits up with plastic pellets

We always knew that the eventual robotic rebellion would come in stages (and would start with Roombas), so while many may take a childish satisfaction in seeing an innocent Roomba hacked up to shoot Airsoft BB pellets, we're constantly aware that this is another step towards the ultimate annihilation of all meat-based life forms. "Cool Bots!" MAKE cries, oblivious to the destructive potential pent up inside the little hoover's circuitry -- it's thinking: "I don't even need to try, they're giving me weapons!" Fortunately, this is very much an early stage killer robot, as the photos over on isobot's flickr stream attest. The modified Roomba may look menacing with its red laser sight, but it appears as if the little thing can't aim its plastic payload any higher than a few inches off the ground, limiting its targets to feet and unsuspecting house cats. Of course, that red laser also gives it more than a passing similarity to a certain infamous robot / human hybrid. Today, Airsoft; tomorrow, assimilation?

[Via MAKE]

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 20th 2007 2:00PM]

I am Locutus of Roomba, resistance is futile. Your life as it has been, is over. From this time forward, you will vacuum our carpets!

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 20th 2007 3:39PM]

Can't I just bump it on the nose and make it go away?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 20th 2007 2:23PM]

I, for one, welcome our new ankle-sniping robot overlords! Take out our mobility, and we humans are just bags of water on the floor...

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 20th 2007 2:49PM]

Why is it always PLASTIC BB's that these things get modded to fire? Why not slap a CO2 canister on there and have it fire metal BB's or pellets? Atleast then it would be deadly to, say, squirrels and rabbits. You couldn't kill a goldfish with plastic BB's.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 20th 2007 3:06PM]

"meat-based life forms". HA! Love it!

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 20th 2007 3:58PM]

You don't have a link to back when the University of Florida announced that they had built a meat-eating robot! Possibly because you never reported it? But CNN still has an article up.

http://archives.cnn.com/2000/NATURE/07/21/carnivorous.robot.reut/index.html

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 21st 2007 7:42PM]

Is it just me or does this remind you of the Daleks?


EXTERMINATE EXTERMINATE!

[cliffy Posted Apr 20th 2007 11:19PM]

We are the superior vacuums. Dirt is inferior. Exterminate exterminate.