[jyl]

We've all seen "Avatar". And we know the technology is already here to allow people to remotely control war-fighting machines - Predator UAVs, little tracked vehicles for IED-clearing, etc. So, when will we see more remotely-controlled fighting machines?

Suppose the next US battle tank didn't need to carry a crew, protect them from penetrating weapons, shield them from NBC, provide for their ingress/egress, could pack the punch of an Abrams in a 100 mph Humvee-sized vehicle.

Suppose the next US air superiority fighter didn't need to carry a pilot, had no human-related g-limit, didn't need the redundancy required by a human life.

Suppose the next US trooper could run 50 mph, withstand multiple bullet strikes, see with radar/infrared/amplification, carry 200 lbs of weaponry, and never require a medic - if hit badly enough, "he's" disposable, push the destruct button and boot up another one.

An "Avatar" meets "Terminator" fantasy? Or something we're working on?