Rummy's Robots

SMH:

Twenty-three robotic vehicles including modified SUVs and dune buggies return to the Nevada desert this weekend to try to win a $US2 million ($A2.63 million) prize from the US Pentagon.

Now why would the Pentagon want robots that can race across the desert...? Oh yeah!

"We can now see a future where these vehicles will take the place of soldiers in harm's way," said Ron Kurjanowicz, program manager of the DARPA Grand Challenge race.

Of course, those US soldiers wouldn't actually BE in harm's way if they stayed at home...

This is part of a very widespread theme in the robotics industry. Most of the funding for robotics is coming from the military-industrial complex.