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They already have. Unlike AlGore, who claimed to have helped invent the internet, DARPA actually did it. And they've been moving on. They've gotten into robotics in a big way, and what they've been doing is spooky. They've built a T-800 series of Terminators. Well, they're supposed to help people, so it must be okay. Their new Cheetah project is also supposed to help people. As the name implies, Cheetah is designed to be a four-legged robot with a flexible spine and articulated head (and potentially a tail) that runs faster than the fastest human. In addition to raw speed, Cheetah’s makers promise that it will have the agility to make tight turns so that it can “zigzag to chase and evade” and be able to stop on a dime. Sounds helpful, eh?
Prototype for Cheetah is underway. Ever wonder what a robotic predator looks like?
It's pretty interesting. Fortunately, it will only be deployed to help. It probably needs to be able to outrun people so that it can save them from natural disaster, and all.
