Are these for real or still a thing of the future?

If they're real, are there any that are in use with the military?

been playing Splinter Cell huh?

i dont think they are a reality just yet.

at least they werent when i was in the Corp. (not that i know of at any rate).

Actually, I got it from Aliens!

But I know what you're talking about.

Does anybody know when they'll come about?

The technology has certainly been around long enough...no biggie. Just the ethical question of an indiscriminate killing machine. Still, in an area using landmines, about the same thing.

Personally I'd like to see these used on the US Mexican border...but that's just me....but land mines are an acceptable substitute....

I agree with Gazrok, they can and probably do exist, but they ain't smart enough to discriminate friend from foe. Once they figure that out, lots will be automated.

Originally posted by sweatmonicaIdo
Actually, I got it from Aliens!
But I know what you're talking about.
Does anybody know when they'll come about?

Actually the Phalanx system fits the bill and is in use today. But its not very portable. The Technology should be avalible now though to put together such a system. But autonomous weapons scare me.

yeah the phalanx rocks.
automated is the way but is not very ethical and scares me 2

Yep, forgot about the Phalanx.... For those less familiar, its a system aboard ships (mostly carriers) using a gun to destroy inbound threats.

Land mines can do the job though, on land, and are cheaper, easier to control, etc. so it's really no surprise the auto sentry guns never really came to be.....

Yeah, but remember the Sgt. York? It was supposed to somewhat autonomous, but it liked to lock on to the wrong targets, target towing aircraft and such. I'm sure we've come along way from that, but I'm still a wee leary of self controlled weapon systems.

One word.....Skynet.

Ive seen them on ships and they look absoloutley deadly,they track a target (incoming enemy aircraft) and pump it full of Lead,the footage ive seen showed the cannon changing direction super fast and continuing to follow the target right until it went into the sea-couldnt tell you where i saw it though.
I agree these things are very scary but would the answer to prevent freindly fire be to place some sort of identification tag on things such as hand weapons and equipment? the automated weapon only fires if no code is registered (still rather hit and miss though)

yeah i didnt know about that thoug

but the kool thing on RN ships is the cats eyes, you can take control of all guns and the guns point where you look. is really freaky.

[edit on 21-9-2004 by devilwasp]

Originally posted by Gazrok
One word.....Skynet.

Exactly. Even though weapons systems like the Aegis, Patriot, and Phalanx have an "auto" mode, there is still a human in the loop monitoring. To give total controll to a live weapons system and let it hunt for targets is kind of foolhardy. i posted a thread on the Army buying autonomous UCARS that would use SAR to distingusih between who was armed and who was not. Betcha it can tell the difference between a kid holding an aluminum bat and a guy holding a rifle eh?