RUFF STUFF: Killer robot dog comes equipped with sniper rifle on its back
Author of the article
enette Wilford
Publishing date:Oct 14, 2021 • 12 hours ago • 1 minute read • Join the conversation
Robot dog equipped with sniper-type rifle on its back.
Robot dog equipped with sniper-type rifle on its back. PHOTO BY GHOST ROBOTICS /Twitter
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This dog is packing.
A four-legged robot equipped with a sniper-like rifle on its back made its debut at an Army trade show this week.
While the amount of rounds it can hold was not revealed, nor its cost, the 6.5 mm Creedmoor sniper rifle is capable of hitting targets from over one kilometre away.
The rigged robodog comes courtesy of Ghost Robotics, which simply added the Special Purpose Unmanned Rifle (SPUR) to one of its existing designs, and arms manufacturer SWORD International.
The SPUR can be remotely “trained” to load, unload and fire its rifle.
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The idea of weaponized robot dogs — or, as the developers put it, warfighters’ best friend — will likely cause controversy.
“Due to its highly capable sensors, the SPUR can operate in a magnitude of conditions, both day and night,” they said during the dog’s unveiling at the Association of the United States Army’s 2021 Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, D.C., which ran from Oct. 11–13.
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“The SWORD Defense Systems SPUR is the future of unmanned weapons system — and that future is now.”
The SPUR also appears to have its own sighting system, to allow operators to aim at whatever (or whomever?) the rifle is targeting.
The U.S. Air Force has expressed interest in “the possibility of operating robot dogs remotely from central command facilities.”
“These dogs will be an extra set of eyes and ears while computing large amounts of data at strategic locations throughout Tyndall Air Force Base,” Air Force Maj. Jordan Criss said in a statement last year, after a test involving the robots.
“They will be a huge enhancement for our defenders and allow flexibility in the posting and response of our personnel.”
![FBdCykPWQAQjMv6-e1634234459230[1].jpg](https://forums.canadiancontent.net/data/attachments/8/8739-de506c2b4bb8c0d5cd10fe0666c63c08.jpg "FBdCykPWQAQjMv6-e1634234459230[1].jpg")
torontosun.com
Author of the article
enette WilfordPublishing date:Oct 14, 2021 • 12 hours ago • 1 minute read • Join the conversation
Robot dog equipped with sniper-type rifle on its back.
Robot dog equipped with sniper-type rifle on its back. PHOTO BY GHOST ROBOTICS /Twitter
Article content
This dog is packing.
A four-legged robot equipped with a sniper-like rifle on its back made its debut at an Army trade show this week.
While the amount of rounds it can hold was not revealed, nor its cost, the 6.5 mm Creedmoor sniper rifle is capable of hitting targets from over one kilometre away.
The rigged robodog comes courtesy of Ghost Robotics, which simply added the Special Purpose Unmanned Rifle (SPUR) to one of its existing designs, and arms manufacturer SWORD International.
The SPUR can be remotely “trained” to load, unload and fire its rifle.
Advertisement
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Article content
The idea of weaponized robot dogs — or, as the developers put it, warfighters’ best friend — will likely cause controversy.
“Due to its highly capable sensors, the SPUR can operate in a magnitude of conditions, both day and night,” they said during the dog’s unveiling at the Association of the United States Army’s 2021 Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, D.C., which ran from Oct. 11–13.
Nathan Kanasawe and his friend spotted a Boston Dynamics robot dog last week in a Sudbury neighbourhood.
'KIND OF FREAKY': Boston Dynamics robot dog spotted in Sudbury
Spot, Handle and Atlas robots dance during a year-end video by the robotics company Boston Dynamics in a screen grab from a Dec. 29, 2020 social media post.
Boston Dynamics' backflipping robot shows off new 'parkour' routine
This photo taken on February 1, 2018 shows robots in a lab of a doll factory of EXDOLL, a firm based in the northeastern Chinese port city of Dalian.
New study finds 42% would get under the covers with a robot
“The SWORD Defense Systems SPUR is the future of unmanned weapons system — and that future is now.”
The SPUR also appears to have its own sighting system, to allow operators to aim at whatever (or whomever?) the rifle is targeting.
The U.S. Air Force has expressed interest in “the possibility of operating robot dogs remotely from central command facilities.”
“These dogs will be an extra set of eyes and ears while computing large amounts of data at strategic locations throughout Tyndall Air Force Base,” Air Force Maj. Jordan Criss said in a statement last year, after a test involving the robots.
“They will be a huge enhancement for our defenders and allow flexibility in the posting and response of our personnel.”
Computerized canines to join Team Tyndall
Over the last year, Tyndall Air Force Base and the 325th Security Forces Squadron have been working with Ghost Robotics to develop a system to enhance security and safety for the base
www.tyndall.af.mil
RUFF STUFF: Killer robot dog comes equipped with sniper rifle on its back
A four-legged robot equipped with a sniper-like rifle on its back made its debut at an Army trade show this week.
