Using Tauntuans.

A

Aspiring Mogul

We just had a discussion about using tauntuans in the Empire Strikes Back. Well, the Marines have been using pack mules in the mountains of Afghanistan.

The furry animals are perfect for hauling heavy loads through rugged terrain and have become crucial helpers as U.S. forces prepare to head to a war zone where the air is too thin for heavy choppers, roads are inaccessible and donkeys are plentiful, cheap and efficient.
Click to expand...

But the Marines are also testing a high-tech robotic mule, but I don't know if they will be as cost-effective as the biological kind.
 
I'd guess the robotic ones will replace actual pack mules for the military eventually.

Of course, that's for military forces with the budget and resources to get them. Rebel forces are always working with extremely limited resources, and have to make the best use of whatever is available to them - which in most cases will include things like domestic pack animals.
 
No, they're called "Big Dog" and "Wild Cat", and they're terrifying.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNZPRsrwumQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wE3fmFTtP9g

Someday, they'll look back at that first video and see how we kicked them around and feel perfectly justified in eradicating the human race...
 
This is DARPA's current humanoid robot development platform, ATLAS:

Atlas-p1red.jpg


Honestly, it's far less impressive in action, but a few more years of development and yep - the terminator!
 
I have been doing some research on AI, for obvious reasons, and AI as of now cannot do many things. For example, Deep Blue can beat any human in chess, but no program can beat a GO master at that ancient game of black and white stones. And, apparently, AI also has serious problems with the board game, Stratego.

The obvious answer is to say that, one day, AI can do all that, but that answer is not falsifiable - IOW, people can say that even after a million years of trying, and no one can say they're wrong.

So my project would be to say that, yes, computers can help us win battles, but they cannot replace us.
 
It took me a couple of posts to realize the subject wasn't "Using Tarantulas".

Although using one of the 1950s Universal Studios size would look awfully cool if not a bit menacing :lol:
 
I got to watch this very nice documentary this week. They broadcast it on PBS. And so germane to this discussion. A real eye-opener, at least for me. Wish I could link to an online streaming video of the whole program. But looks like that's not to be. Anyway, if you get a chance to catch this, do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlwH7OKIn1g
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top