Army Tests Robotic Convoy

The US Army News Service reports on trials at Fort Gordon of a twenty ton robot vehicle.

The system being tested is hoped to lead to largely unmanned robotic convoys. A manned lead vehicle ("crew integration and automation test bed" - CAT) lays down a trail of "electronic breadcrumbs". The robotic vehicle then tails the CAT.

In the longer term it is hoped that the army will be able to create dedicated unmanned ground vehicles.

The reason for using robotic vehicles is to minimise casualties among soldiers. That is, of course, a fine objective.

But taken to the extreme it could lead to the ironic situation where the only people killed in war are civilians...