Metal Storm demos FireStorm firearm-equipped iRobot bot

iRobot's various military robots are already capable of packing some weaponry, but it looks like Metal Storm is set to give their arsenal a considerable boost, with it recently demonstrating its remotely-operated FireStorm weapons system on one of iRobot's standard Warrior platforms. That system essentially makes the ammunition the only moving part in the weapon, with it able to fire bullets electronically at a rate of thousands of rounds per minute (or "theoretically" even up to a million), which Metal Storm says makes the system ideal for a whole range of applications including, somewhat ominously, "crowd control."

[Christy McGrory @ May 29th 2008 8:12AM]

That title is quite a mouthful, but i'm guessing you're used to that type of thing now ;)

[Taylor @ May 29th 2008 1:20PM]

Yeah, they definitely use "storm", "fire", and "bot" twice each in the title...
-Taylor

[Flashpoint @ May 29th 2008 8:14AM]

Imagine what the future will be like when the government(s) of [ insert your oppressive regime here] can simply send in a couple of robots to squash uprisings.

Metal Storms are DANGEROUS. Even firing non lethal projectiles, these things can put eyes out or send people into shock - and I doubt there is an EMT model available to assist the multiple injured.
This isn't crowd control - this is a one unit firing squad. Crowd control might be if it had a "Pain Beam" attached to it but not a projectile launcher.

Someone needs to stop the governments from using these because it may seem like fun and games now, but imagine what it would be like if you have Chinese citizens protesting the PRC government, or Myanmar citizens protesting the junta's refusal to allow foreign aid, or tibetans protesting the PRC government, or Americans calling for impeachment.

Some of us have forgotten that a government is supposed to work for the people, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

[Yevon @ May 29th 2008 8:18AM]

That reminds me, I haven't seen V for Vendetta in a while... Thanks.

[Kamokazi @ May 29th 2008 9:44AM]

The 'Pain Beams' are not overly practical yet (ie not small enough for bots like this, and expensive as hell). Anything that's less lethal is better than lethal. I'd rather be hit by a beanbag gun than a nightstick, personally. And the beanbag gun keeps the law enforcement safer becuase they can be at a distance. (Also, if you're in a situation where you're being shot at with a beanbag gun, you should probably know better-whether or not it's justified for you to be there is irrelevant, you know you might get injured so you're taking a risk)

And governments like China will opress their people with or without help from new technology. No point in preventing a lot of other responsible governments (responsible in comparison to China) from using it.

Also, I don't know where you get the impression where these things are controlled by some gamer 1000 miles away trying to pwn noobs with his cool robot toy. These are short-range, locally controled robots being controlled by soldiers/law enforcement that take things very seriously. Sure you'll have the occasional nutjob or someone getting careless, but that's unavoidable and will happen with any weapon system.

[Alexander @ May 29th 2008 9:48AM]

Flashpoint, you are such a moron. I mod your posts down almost instantly as soon as I see your name. They are never of any use to any post you care to toss your idiotic drivel into.

[BluesK1d @ May 29th 2008 10:32AM]

@Kamokazi

Spoken like a fellow porac (or similar) reader.

[Steventm @ May 29th 2008 3:03PM]

@BluesK1d

Huh?

There is:
Porac, Pampanga.
Porac, Slovakia.

Capitalize your acronyms next time:
PORAC = Peace Officers Research Association of California

[The Apple @ May 29th 2008 8:17AM]

S W E E T . . .

[Nihility @ May 29th 2008 8:20AM]

I see no way for this to go horribly wrong.

[StreetStealth @ May 29th 2008 12:36PM]

iRobot, you have officially become Omni Consumer Products.

[Ace b @ May 29th 2008 2:43PM]

Ahh...The makings of Skynet.....It's a beautiful thing....


*goes back to bomb shelter*

[RedBull Runner @ May 29th 2008 3:40PM]

THIS WAS A TRIUMPH
Im making a note here: HUGE SUCCESS...


We do what we must because we can...

And the science gets done,
And you make a neat gun,
For the people who are STILL ALIVE

[David @ May 29th 2008 8:30AM]

Another one of those 'hearts and minds' based strategies eh.?

[dan2600 @ May 29th 2008 8:33AM]

In the distant future anime writers will be thought to have been profits.

this thing is sweet, I want one.

Oppressive govt's already have human firing squads of large numbers (and they squash uprising pretty well...take a look at Tibet [yea, i went there]), so I don't see why a robot would be any different, the way i see it is that the "good" guys can send one of these in instead of people so I think this little bugger is a good thing...and badass.

Robot+guns =PROFIT

[dan2600 @ May 29th 2008 9:12AM]

err....prophets

sorry too early

[Timmy @ May 29th 2008 8:34AM]

How are these things at taking direct fire? or say a Mazel tov cocktail?

[404 @ May 29th 2008 8:50AM]

Heh.

Mazel Tov = Expression of good luck in Hebrew

Molotov = home made bomb

I don't think you'll have much luck throwing Mazel tov cocktails at them! ;)

[chickenator @ May 29th 2008 9:01AM]

err...good luck bombs?

[David @ May 29th 2008 8:36AM]

Well the army is a very large government employer (especially in Myanmar and N Korea as it happens), so technically this would reduce the number of people working for the governement.

But yeah you're right opressive regimes exploit their populations, but that dystopia already exists, these aren't going to create it, not just because they are scary and dangerous.

[Schmoove @ May 29th 2008 8:43AM]

And this is where it all begins.... Independence Day awaits us

[chocoblock @ May 29th 2008 8:58AM]

You have your Will Smith movies confused.

[VTL @ May 29th 2008 9:10AM]

You have your movies confused, period.

FireStorm today, nukes tomorrow, SkyNet becomes self-aware the day after.

[S-Fin @ May 29th 2008 8:45AM]

So the chain of command loses another link where someone can say "Hold on, this is wrong..." Great.

[Wonderkid @ May 29th 2008 8:51AM]

Interesting that the same people who make a popular vacuum cleaner now make one of the world's most effective people killing machines. Will the Roomba suck up the body parts? "Now remember squad, always leave the battlefield as you found it! Leave no fingernail behind..."

[bbb3108 @ May 29th 2008 12:35PM]

@wonderkid

Read up, the company has always been a military contractor, only when they introduced the Roomba (2001?) did they become civilian as well.

[Shawin @ May 29th 2008 8:52AM]

I need to start building some EMP cannons and some kind of bullet-proof shield.

[bravo_xenu @ May 29th 2008 8:54AM]

How does water affect this machine?

[chickenator @ May 29th 2008 9:02AM]

it makes hot coffee

[Starnerf @ May 29th 2008 9:13AM]

They can breed too? That's bad...

[kamu @ May 29th 2008 9:04AM]

'Crowd control' no doubt a lot like 'pest control'.

[Reptillacus @ May 29th 2008 9:13AM]

The point here is quite simple, In order to protect democracy the people (i.e. the 'crowd') need to be 'controlled'.

[kamu @ May 29th 2008 9:37AM]

EMP, anyone :)?

[ScreamingSkull @ May 29th 2008 9:52AM]

You have 30 seconds to comply!

[Dan R @ May 29th 2008 9:54AM]

What happens when the russians hack this?

[andres @ May 29th 2008 7:43PM]

they target you for uncovering their plan

[M.Samba @ May 29th 2008 9:56AM]

So this robot can move on its own and think on its own and it has its own gun and ammunition. I say for it to be more human-like we give it a few key emotions like hate and anger.

What could possibly go wrong?

[PsyK0 @ Jun 15th 2008 2:59AM]

The Warrior robots can not think on their own. They do not have AI, they are not automated. They are controlled using control devices, either similar to a gamepad or more commonly a large control deck with several joysticks, buttons and switches. Although there are sometimes malfunctions (look up the SWORDS being pulled from Iraq), we are still a ways off from AI controlled attack bots.

[B1indspot @ May 29th 2008 11:19AM]

PsyKO,
Might want to research your own response:
http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/15/armed-robots-not-pulled-from-iraq-after-all/

[Shiftlock @ May 29th 2008 10:42AM]

This will work great for crowd control, until a bunch of people run up behind it and knock it over.

[whowhatme @ May 29th 2008 11:00AM]

somethin somethin somethin firearm wielding remote-controlled robotic overlords blah blah etc.

[94 taurus owner @ May 29th 2008 11:40AM]

BOT WARS YEEEAAAAAAAGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

[MARSHAK @ May 29th 2008 12:43PM]

i want to see this thing in robot wars. like the TV show that Jay Leno competes in,

[Martin0641 @ May 29th 2008 12:55PM]

Citizens! Cease and desist...or cease to exist! You will comply.

[Matolaatikko @ May 29th 2008 2:24PM]

"...able to fire bullets electronically at a rate of thousands of rounds per minute..." and 5 rounds per barrel? Totals 20 rounds per robot.

[andres @ May 29th 2008 7:44PM]

1 shot will be enough

[Pat @ May 29th 2008 9:50PM]

Can I get one in NERF, please? Cubicle wars will reach a new level.