Daniel Wilson: When It Comes To Aliens, “Metal Beats Flesh”

Writing by Evan Ackerman on Friday, 15 of February , 2008 at 5:47 am

Speaking of Keepon, IO9 got themselves an interview with Daniel H. Wilson, author of How To Survive a Robot Uprising and most recently How To Build a Robot Army. The theme of the interview was a practical one: when the aliens come, what do we do? Here’s an excerpt:

In your new book, you offer a lot of helpful, concrete advice on building a robot army to defeat alien invaders. But shouldn’t we be forming armies of bioengineered defenders too? What would be your first pick for a life form we should reengineer for alien defense?

Bugs. Just like robots, bugs are covered in armored exoskeletons, impervious to having their legs ripped off, and I’m pretty sure that they haven’t got any feelings. How to Build a Robot Army doesn’t pay much attention to genetic modification, but it puts a whole lot of thought into how to upgrade biological creatures with robotic modifications. Here’s a fun fact to know and tell: Scientists believe that by implanting a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) at the pupa stage, insects will integrate the devices seamlessly into their bodies as they grow - like a tree growing through a fence. Hmmm… Let’s take a peek into my Bag of the Future. What’s that? It’s full of robot scorpions!

Click through to read the full interview.

[ IO9 Interviews Daniel Wilson ]

Category: Humor

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