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Energetically Autonomous Tactical Robot

By Miss Cellania in Science & Tech, Weapons & War on Jul 16, 2009 at 8:54 am


Robotic Technology is developing a robot called EATR, which stands for Energetically Autonomous Tactical Robot. It’s more than just an acronym. The machine will be able to go on long range and long distance missions and refuel itself by foraging and consuming “biomass” as well as conventional fuels. This biomass could theoretically include dead bodies.

That “biomass” and “other organically-based energy sources” wouldn’t necessarily be limited to plant material — animal and human corpses contain plenty of energy, and they’d be plentiful in a war zone.

EATR will be powered by the Waste Heat Engine developed by Cyclone Power Technology of Pompano Beach, Fla., which uses an “external combustion chamber” burning up fuel to heat up water in a closed loop, generating electricity.

The advantages to the military are that the robot would be extremely flexible in fuel sources and could roam on its own for months, even years, without having to be refueled or serviced.

Link to story. Link to website. -Thanks, Brother Bill!


 
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  1. Lyle
    Jul 16th, 2009 at 9:39 am

    One Word

    Bolo

    Look it up, Author, Keith Laumer

  2. LisaL
    Jul 16th, 2009 at 10:26 am

    Wow, that's all we need... robots that have a taste for human corpses O_O

  3. John
    Jul 16th, 2009 at 11:05 am

    @LisaL

    Apparently, we taste like bacon.

  4. redphone
    Jul 16th, 2009 at 11:39 am

    Presumably the robot will be able to tell the difference between a dead human and an unconscious, injured one.

  5. Alex
    Jul 16th, 2009 at 12:38 pm

    Nom-ified for your enjoyment:

  6. coraleaterlinda
    Jul 16th, 2009 at 12:43 pm

    Let me get this straight - so the military will be using robotic zombies? There's a horror movie in here somewhere.

  7. mccrum
    Jul 16th, 2009 at 4:41 pm

    I would have loved to be at the meeting where they discussed a need for a autonomous human-eating robot.

    I swear, it's like these people have never seen any science fiction film. They could have at least watched Terminator 3 a few years back.

  8. Briannana
    Jul 16th, 2009 at 6:36 pm

    Yeah. I try not to be an anti-science guy, running around screaming the Apocalypse is upon us, but HOLY $#&@ING CRAP! I mean, what the hell are they honestly thinking? It's like they're playing mind games with us at this point.

  9. test
    Jul 16th, 2009 at 9:34 pm

    Please excuse my boldness

  10. fun games for kids
    Jul 16th, 2009 at 9:38 pm

    @redphone

    I think they should be able to... I think the thing about "biomass" is that you'd have to be decomposing first before it can harvest the energy. An unconscious injured soldier isn't decomposing enough for it to harvest any energy.

  11. Ali S.
    Jul 17th, 2009 at 12:54 am

    Hahaha! I can just imagine the robot declaring, "I require nutrients!!" in a loud creepy robot voice as it noms away on a human cadaver.

  12. Brother Bill
    Jul 17th, 2009 at 6:43 am

    Ha! Fox News has altered the linked story. Now it says the robots are vegetarian.

  13. Jay
    Jul 17th, 2009 at 7:21 am

    So long as they're not centrally deployed by something called Skynet...

  14. dixncox
    Jul 18th, 2009 at 5:38 pm

    I looked this up, and the maker of this robot, Robotic Technology Inc. (RTI) have a press release concerning this project.

    They claim it is strictly a vegetarian robot.

    They're pullin' our chains. haha

  15. robotic
    Jul 23rd, 2009 at 7:08 pm

    This is just one of the many developing energy resources for the future robots. Alternatives are fuel cells, chemically powered artificial muscles, solar etc...

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