Military looking to build autonomous, bunker-busting killbot
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted March 16th 2010 2:14PM
posted March 16th 2010 2:14PM
We remember hearing something in the 1990s about SDI (or "Star Wars") actually being a tool to fight UFOs, and that places like Area 51 contained vast underground bases positively teeming with ETs. We didn't think much of it then, and neither do we now -- although this request for information posted over on the FBO website has given us pause. The query is officially for info regarding "robotic underground munition technology," meaning that Defense Threat Reduction Agency would really, really like to get its hands on an autonomous bunker-busting robot capable of being dropped on a target and digging into (and then blowin' up) whatever it is that lies beneath the ground. Features specified include: a survivable underground communication system, capabilities to efficiently overcome natural and man-made obstacles, viable passive and active defensive and offensive systems, vehicle control logic to avoid, traverse, neutralize or defeat natural and man-made obstacles, and more. One one hand, this does sound like a bit of "war on terror" overkill, but again we don't really expect the federal government to throw tons of money at a grandiose and over-expense project that will never come to fruition. We'll be keeping a close eye on this one.
A bunker-busting killbot armed with a shovel?
@GenericMessage You know, 'cos it needs to dig underground...
But a more alarmist name would be Killbot Factory!!!
@GenericMessage
But it makes him look oh so adorable as he breaks the shovel handle and jams the halves into your skull.
@Joseph L Flatley
Yeah, if it wasn't a snow shovel, i'd buy that.
@Joseph L Flatley
But that's a snow shovel. You couldn't dig a hole with it very well.
@GenericMessage
Arctic igloo killbot?
@shamowfski I didn't build it! Blame the Defense Threat Reduction Agency
Nothing could possibly go wrong with this plan.
@LAY
I, for one, welcome our new killbot overlo..... *skull smashed*
@shamowfski
Sure, they're going to use him in russia
Great robot ditch diggers man I love technology
Let's get a few of these built, men. Get 'em in there to dig some of these Hajii up out of their ratholes. Dismissed!
@GenericMessage Iran has done a good job of digging down and 'bunkering up' its nuclear facilities. Most conventional munitions would likely leave them unharmed. This is the alternative.
It's Apple's Automator on steroids!
@Tallest Skil
Poor Automator, I think the government sent him to a mexican wrestling camp :D
steroids, grim look, he even had to change his well-loved pipe into a snow shovel! And now they want him to go fighting.... so sad!
I'm just wondering wich killbot fits best to this...
Terminator,
Transformer,
Matrix?
@Niklasnick
Oh, forgot the StarWars robots... ;)
Exactly what the world needs - a nuclear Robosapien...
Transformer? and Japan get Gundam?
Terminator T800 or T2000!
Like in the Matrix?
"we don't really expect the federal government to throw tons of money at a grandiose and over-expense project that will never come to fruition."
Oh Engadget, how I love your special flavor of sarcasm :D
@F orrest Missed that the first time through. +1
Just as long as it looks like this.
http://alwaysnewmistakes.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/terminator.jpg
Though I think I'd much rather want it to look like this.
http://thegeekreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/terminator.jpg
I suppose this is an alternative to Simple, low cost, low yield, bunker busting nukes... that we already have?
@Critic2029 I'm thinking this would be used for instances those weapons CAN'T get to... like a DEEP underground tunnel system. Just have the robot go in, drill its way through any walls that get in the way, and BOOM no more terrorists (or tourists if it gets the wrong cave, oops!).
Waist of time, everyone knows the fatal flaw in the killbot is the pre set kill limit.
So they want Lemmings then?!
In the meantime it can clear all the dog crap from my yard.
I would have gone with the Pleobot image.
Heeeere we go! Just as Sci-Fi predicted: http://www.chailife.com/wp-content/uploads/cylon_evolution.jpg
one one hand.
Robot, meet EMP.
Oh Otto, what hath FBO wrought?
Hang in there Osama, we'll get you yet!
The military needs to be doing stuff like this to be ready when the need arises.
You don't start designing building autonomous bunker-busting kill bots on the day you get into a conflict with a bunkered enemy.
Skynet goes online in 3..2..1..
Maybe the robot will dig a hole an never come out to do humans dirty work
Why does this have "Tremors" meets "Terminator" written all over it?