The global war against terror is apparently sparking a rise in the number of innovation prize competitions with a distinctly military flavor. For example, Singapore has launched an innovation prize contest to build a robot that can operate in urban warfare conditions without the assistance of satellite navigation or any kind of remote control device. Such a robot would be able to conduct search-and-destroy missions in war-torn, densely populated urban areas:
"The country's Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) is offering one million Singapore dollars ($652,000) to whoever develops a robot that completes a stipulated set of tasks – yet to be revealed – in the fastest time possible. DSTA said individuals, companies, universities and research institutes are all welcome to participate in the contest, dubbed the TechX Challenge, although foreigners must collaborate with local partners. "Operation in urban areas represents a significant challenge," DSTA chief executive Richard Lim said at the launch of the contest. "Recent military experiences in Iraq, the Middle East and other locations have clearly illustrated these challenges."
One day soon, instead of a "troop surge" in Iraq, I suppose the U.S. government will be announcing a "robot surge" in various terrorist-infested locations around the world.
[image: Black Hawk Down video game]
