Robotic warfare

Picric acid was made for the French government. It was also used to produce Explosive D (ammonium picrate) and chlorpicrin, a chemical warfare agent. Picric acid crystallizes into yellowish grains that are extremely shock sensitive. A small bottle was found at a military laboratory in DC. Chemists decided that it was too sensitive to move and brought in a robot to drill a hole through the bottle so that it could be neutralized. Another bottle was found at the University of the District of Columbia and was taken out to an athletic field for detonation. 

DARPA, focusing on large-scale robotics applications in such areas as space exploration, warfare, and disaster management. 

Military program managers and field commanders believe that in future military conflicts the UAVs will play a critical role in battlefields and in remote hostile areas. Technical articles published in the June 2009 edition of Military and Aerospace Electronics revealed that defense planners are leaning toward the deployment of unmanned vehicles for underwater reconnaissance, mine detection and destruction, and antisubmarine warfare activities. Furthermore, military commanders are considering the deployment of robot vehicles to undertake reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition, mine and I ED detection, and disposal missions in forward battlefield areas. Some of these vehicles are equipped with deadly Hellfire missiles to destroy hostile targets. 

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