Most of the robots currently serving in the U.S. military are simply mechanized extensions of soldiers; They can execute dangerous maneuvers and keep people from high-risk situations, but they’re usually tethered to operators working remotely, and don’t cut down on manpower so much as they take it out of harm’s way.

But a machine named Octavia, which can respond to visual and verbal commands could pave the way for a fleet of self-sufficient bots that can be as receptive to a commander as a human soldier. Octavia was displayed at a sci-tech conference in Virginia this week.

 

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