Opinion: Why we should all be scared of real robot wars!

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Jonathan Weinberg writes… One of the UK’s leading scientists reckons terrorists could soon be using robots to attack their targets – so should we all be worried and run for cover?

Well, I’ve already battened down my hatches, took the tin hat out of storage and stocked up on tins of corned beef and baked beans. Annoyingly, I don’t even like corned beef, but I’m told it lasts.

Anyhow, robots are without doubt one of the biggest technological advances and one of the biggest techno-tests we face in the future. If they can be used for good, it stands to reason they can be used for evil. Anyone who’s seen Steven Spielberg flick Artificial Intelligence: AI starring Jude Law will know how terrifying a world with ultra-realistic human-like robots could be…

CES 2008: Erector / Meccano unveil three new Spyke robots (well, Spykee)

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Spyke was one of the hits of last year’s CES, being a spy robot capable of trundling around the house recording video and streaming it to you over Wi-Fi. Trouble is, he never actually went on sale – makers Erector and Meccano delayed him to get the technology just right. He’s due out in September or October this year now, and has acquired an extra ‘e’ (he’s now called Spykee).