LIMES: Language for Intelligent Machines
Workshop
West Point Military Academy
July 2006
Assignment: Write a short scenario in which robots using
language is central to accomplishing a mission.
Grand Prize: Signed copy of “How to Survive a Robot Uprising”
by Daniel H. Wilson.
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From: Thaddeus Roppel
To: Meyer, T. MAJ MATH
Date: 5/19/2006 11:47:15 PM
Subject: Sci‑Fi story for West Point BOT Language Conference
Dear Tom,
I've included below a very short sci‑fi scenario for the workshop. The principle futuristic ingredients of this scenario are the use of bots as real‑time translators, and the ability to integrate physical gestures with spoken language. (I hope the story isn't too gory. Also, I'm not well‑versed in military procedures, so it might sound somewhat hokey.)
Best regards,
Thad Roppel
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Commando Unit Alpha received word
from HQ that 17 U.S. citizens had been taken hostage by heavily armed insurgents
in Sangoon. The hostages were being held in the U.S. Mission complex in the
capitol city. Their orders were to rescue the hostages with minimal loss of
life. The 5‑person commando unit
was being provided with 3 SmartBots to assist in the
mission.
Upon making their way to the
mission complex, the commandos executed standard search maneuvers. All team members, including the
SmartBots, had wireless communicators for voice. The SmartBots were able to
understand and use hand gestures as well. Presently the rescue team identified
the room in which the hostages were being held, and entered forcefully. A standoff ensued, with the rescue team
threatening the captors, and the captors threatening the hostages. The captors
began speaking among themselves in Sangoonese. After a brief delay, one of the
SmartBots began providing a translation in English for the humans. The captors
did not hear this, since the SmartBot was outputting its translation directly to
the wireless communicator channel without making any audible sound. The
commandos thus learned that the captors were divided about killing the hostages
and losing their own lives. One of them was clearly the leader and the others
were unenthusiastic followers. Without further ado, the human leader of the
rescue team shot dead the leader of the captors, and as expected the others
threw down their weapons and surrendered. The hostages were rescued without
further incident. The captors were interrogated on the spot with the help of the
SmartBots. Information about their
base of operations was obtained and reported back to HQ for further
action.