The bond between man and machine

When Mark Tilden tested out a robot in a mine field, he got unexpected results -- from a human:

At the Yuma Test Grounds in Arizona, the autonomous robot, 5 feet long and modeled on a stick-insect, strutted out for a live-fire test and worked beautifully, he says. Every time it found a mine, blew it up and lost a limb, it picked itself up and readjusted to move forward on its remaining legs, continuing to clear a path through the minefield.

Finally it was down to one leg. Still, it pulled itself forward. Tilden was ecstatic. The machine was working splendidly.

The human in command of the exercise, however -- an Army colonel -- blew a fuse.

The colonel ordered the test stopped.

Why? asked Tilden. What's wrong?

The colonel just could not stand the pathos of watching the burned, scarred and crippled machine drag itself forward on its last leg.

This test, he charged, was inhumane.

This story begins a fascinating article by Joel Garreau called "Bots on the Ground," which studies the emotional bond between soldier and . . . yes, robot.

Update: Check out Rob's post on the Bear.

Comments

[Rob B.]

Very cool article.

[Rob B.]

I linked this with one on my blog.

[SeanH]

Cool. That doesn't surprise me much. I've seen articles worrying about people being inhumane to machines in the future as machines become truly intelligent, but I don't think those worriers understand people very well. People anthropomorphize everything. I know people that genuinely miss cars they've owned in the past.

[prairie biker]

I miss my old '60 VW Microbus.

[gail]

Did it have a mattress in the back?

[Rob B.]

"People anthropomorphize everything."

Rob to his computer: "No sweety, Sean didn't mean anything by that. If he knew you , he'd know you were just a human as anyone else."

[hibiscus]

i don't think we anthropomorphize everything. we kill, abuse, and neglect people with impunity. it seems more like habitat, community, and tools are actually the same thing, separated in two big piles of us and them.

[Major John]

As an Ordnance Corps officer I cannot afford to get attached to machinery. I understand that some crews will become fond of their tanks or IFVs, but a freaking mine clearing machine?! Argh.

[gail]

I think what Sean meant was that we anthropomorphize the things we come into daily contact with, which would include habitat, community and tools, so I don't think there's a disagreement on that point. Whether people are able to relate to people who are different from them or not, people they've never met, depends on their individual personalities. Some people are more empathetic than others. It is unfair to stereotype.

[Jake]

Ya! Quit stereotyping! We're talking about Roboto-Americans here and they have rights just like everyone.. errrr.. everyTHING else.