Video: Israel's Robocop Draws Drool

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLKbInFVTRoThe Israeli military doesn't have any Guardium robotic sentries on patrol. But that doesn't stop the Associated Press from proclaiming the machine to be "Israel's newest soldier."

[It] can see at night, never nods off on sentry duty and can carry 300 kilograms (660 pounds) without complaining...

Like the pilot-less drones that have become a mainstay of air forces in Israel, the U.S. and elsewhere, the four-wheeled Guardium is operated from a command room that can be far from the front line. It can be mounted with cameras, night-vision equipment and sensors, as well as more lethal tools like machine guns.

Following pre-programmed routes, it can navigate alone through cities - the vehicle knows how to deal with intersections, traffic and road markings. It can patrol borders, its cameras scanning 360 degrees at all times, and alert operators if it spots anything suspicious.

The Guardium never mentally wanders or falls asleep, as soldiers have been known to do during mind-numbing guard or patrol missions. And it doesn't have a family that will miss it when it's away on reserve duty.

Ugh. Talk about mind-numbing. About the only thing more banal is this promotional video (above), from Guardium's makers. Or maybe this robocop-pushing comic book:

Like their counterparts in the U.S., these Israeli robocops have been around for a few years. But the American ones actually appear to be seeing some action.