From: D. den Otter (neosapient@yahoo.com)
Date: Thu Aug 31 2000 - 10:21:02 MDT
At 23:01 30-08-00 -0700, you wrote:
>Hey, while searching for low-brow TV I stumbled upon battlebots, which
>was on the comedy channel of all things. Two 100 kg robots, no
>restriction on
>design (except no explosives) fight each other to the death. This is
>exactly the kind of thing I had in mind when I suggested new sports,
>where optimal strategies are not yet known, allowing for creative
>design.
>This show has it all: destruction of property, gonzo engineering, fight
>to the
>death, power, speed, mayhem, total guy stuff. Ahhhhh bliss. {8^D
>spike
(Here's the official website, btw http://www.battlebots.com)
There's something similar called "Robot Wars" (http://www.robotwars.co.uk/)
on the BBC. It's rather tame (just short-range stabbing/slashing/bashing
weapons, no hardened steel etc.) but nonetheless fun. They also have
"Robolympics" (or whatever they're called), which are tamer still. IMO they
should get rid of the audience and allow just about any kind of weapon as
long as it doesn't blow the whole arena to Hell. Guns, flame throwers and
grenades could make such shows a lot more fun. Imagine, for example, a
small "tank" with a .50 armor-piercing sniper cannon as its primary weapon.
Would make a fine "house robot", don't you think?
They should also let more robots fight each other at the same time, and use
(small) planes and boats as well as land vehicles. Another idea would be to
fit both large and small robots ("AI" or remote-controlled) with paintball
guns (you have full-auto versions, for example), laser tag equipment and/or
stun devices, and let them "hunt" humans, which would be armed with some
kind of non-lethal weapons themselves. Man against machine, the wave of the
future! Put them all in some nice apocalyptic setting (a la _Running Man_)
and let them fight it out. To make things even more interesting, several
(groups of) humans could compete against each other, as well as against
machines.
Of course, in the show were hosted in certain non-western regions, you
could use real bullets etc., which would significantly boost its
entertainment value. There are probably thousands of people who would
readily risk their lives to win, say, $1,000,000, and many millions who
would watch the show. It could be broadcast over the Net, for example, to
bypass sanctimonious TV regulations, and of course you could sell videos etc.
Everyone wins (well, except those who get killed/injured, obviously): a
poor but persistent/fit/smart person gets a chance to become rich
overnight, the audience gets it kicks, AI researchers get rewarded for
coming up with a "killer" design and the army/police/private security
agencies can use the best models for combat/guard duty etc.
To use robots, AI or remote-controlled, as guards (and possibly as rat
catchers etc. as well) in warehouses, factories, prisons, office buildings
or even private residences would be a good idea regardless of the whole
game concept. Even today's primitive AIs already can learn how to outsmart
humans, and beat them every time. The robots could be fitted with a wide
range of camera gear, lethal/nonlethal weapons, fire fighting equipment etc.
Superior to human guards in just about any aspect; don't need sleep, don't
have to pay them, never complain about anything, aren't corrupt, lazy,
cowardly or reckless, can be made much tougher (armored) than humans, no
sentimental/legal issues if one gets damaged or destroyed, never get bored
etc. etc. Most burglars are in fact bumbling idiots, and would be easy prey
for a "single-minded" pack of such robots. Sentinel robots have great
commercial potential, IMHO, and are right up the transhuman alley...
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