WIRED’s “Danger Room” is aptly named.

If you like robots, and you like guns – this thing is like your birthday + Christmas. If you have even a subtle fear of either, this thing will keep you up at night. Here’s how this robot is described:

“CaMEL is a multifunction platform that can quickly transform from supporting troops to protecting troops as an armed wingman, increasing the firepower of dismounted platoon and company maneuver units,” said Phil Coker, director of the Integrated Platform Solutions business at Northrop Grumman’s Information Systems sector, in a statement. “Its hybrid engine allows the armed CaMEL to operate very quietly – a real plus on the battlefield – and travel farther to provide firepower where it’s needed (full article at WIRED).”

There’s a lot of talk about the thought of unmanned, autonomous killing machines, but I think one things for sure: Someone’s going to develop them, and – admit it or not – many companies and governments are working away at it now. It seems as if the Geneva Convention of our times might be called for, especially with nanotech, robotics, and 3-D printing entering the mix of the future’s tools of war.