# Terminator - Can we build one? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 2, 2013, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terminator-can-we-build-one/659945 "2013-06-02T13:35:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_In_Black)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terminator-can-we-build-one/659945/1 "2013-06-02T13:35:05Z")
Would we be able to build anything like the terminator endoskeleton (not the cybernetic aspects of the terminator’s). And not even with the AI the terminators have. Just a heavily armored robot, maybe controlled by a human remotely. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terminator-can-we-build-one/659945/2 "2013-06-02T13:54:38Z")
Need answer fast? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terminator-can-we-build-one/659945/3 "2013-06-02T14:12:04Z")
[Here’s the closest thing we have so far.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_m56irWKeI) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terminator-can-we-build-one/659945/4 "2013-06-02T14:42:36Z")
[Big Dog](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmAZUWIJlBY) isn’t a biped, but it’s more impressive because it’s actually able to walk around in natural environments, not just controlled lab settings. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terminator-can-we-build-one/659945/5 "2013-06-02T14:55:02Z")
It’s not just the AI “brain,” but the _power supply_ for the thing, too, unless you want to keep it plugged in. Plus, I don’t know what kind of sensors or other equipment the AI would need to do a decent job just at walking around and keeping balanced, especially if you want to build something human-like in form and capability. Building a [Bolo](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolo_%28tank%29) might be easier and more practical, assuming you’ve got the AI on a [chip](http://gndn.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/chip-10.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terminator-can-we-build-one/659945/6 "2013-06-02T15:07:19Z")
The military has been working on battlefield robots for awhile. The Navy has a shipboard firefighting robot. [http://www.nrl.navy.mil/media/news-releases/2012/nrl-designs-robot-for-shipboard-firefighting](http://www.nrl.navy.mil/media/news-releases/2012/nrl-designs-robot-for-shipboard-firefighting) ---
**Author:** ![thicksantorum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@thicksantorum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thicksantorum)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2013, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terminator-can-we-build-one/659945/7 "2013-06-03T00:53:21Z")
> **[Boston Dynamics](https://www.youtube.com/user/BostonDynamics)** > > Boston Dynamics’ mission is to imagine and create exceptional robots that enrich people’s lives. > For more information about Boston Dynamics and our robots, visit us at https://www.bostondynamics.com. The original Terminator, in the first film, shrugged off way more damage than anything using real-world materials could possibly do, though. Could probably build something comparable to the weak shits in the most recent PG-13 crapfest sequel, though. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_In_Black)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2013, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terminator-can-we-build-one/659945/8 "2013-06-03T02:48:36Z")
Interesting. That “Big Dog” is pretty kool. And I understand that anything we build wouldn’t be able to take the abuse that the movie throws at it. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2013, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terminator-can-we-build-one/659945/9 "2013-06-03T04:04:17Z")
Bipedal robots exist, but I have no idea what kind of material they’d need to build them out of to make them as damage resistant as terminators are. Maybe carbon nanotubes, I think those are the strongest material humans can make so far. ---
**Author:** ![straight77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac8455/32.png) [@straight77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straight77)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2013, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terminator-can-we-build-one/659945/10 "2013-06-03T05:40:10Z")
Within 20 years is my guess. speaking of the movie, its a shame that any good movie will have tons of shit sequels. in this case maybe more since the first two were great. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2013, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terminator-can-we-build-one/659945/11 "2013-06-03T13:31:30Z")
> [@straight77](#): > > Within 20 years is my guess. > speaking of the movie, its a shame that any good movie will have tons of shit sequels. in this case maybe more since the first two were great. This is an easily-resolved issue. If you pause the credits, you’ll be able to determine whom to send the robotic terminators back in time to whack.