Robotic Technology Inc. is working on a robot that is powered by biomass – grass, wood, or even dead bodies. The steam powered robot, which is being developed for the Pentagon under a Phase II SBIR grant, is designed for fuel itself off materials in its environment. While the title, “… could feed on dead bodies”, is quite sensational, the ability to power a vehicle using naturally occurring sources of fuel would be a big boon to military vehicles. The “Energetically Autonomous Tactical Robot”, or EATR,

… will be powered by the Waste Heat Engine developed by Cyclone Power Technology of Pompano Beach, Fla., which uses an “external combustion chamber” burning up fuel to heat up water in a closed loop, generating electricity.

All that said, in Skynet’s view, what’s the difference between a dead and a live body? Questions to ponder.

Update: Ah ha! I feel vindicated now. RTI and Cyclone Power have issued a press release to combat the roumors that EATR will feed off of dead bodies. Interestingly enough, descriation of the war dead is a crime under the Geneva Convention.