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Energetically Autonomous Tactical Robot
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<p>The Energetically Autonomous Tactical Robot (EATR) was a project by Robotic Technology Inc. (RTI) and Cyclone Power Technologies Inc. in partnership with the University of Maryland, College Park's Center for Technology and Systems Management and Professor Bilal M. Ayyub. to develop a robotic vehicle that could forage for plant <a href="/facts/Biomass/4VHjaya3">biomass</a> to fuel itself, theoretically operating indefinitely. It was a concept developed between 2003 and 2009 as part of the <a href="/facts/DARPA/Uf9sarhT">DARPA</a> military projects for the <a href="/facts/United_States_military/NHVsU9Id">United States military</a>. </p><p>Joe Rogan elicited some conspiracy theories and media rumors after he claimed on his podcast "Joe Rogan Experience" that the robot would (or at least could) ingest human remains to keep powering itself.[<i>relevant?</i>] Cyclone Power Technologies stated that animal or human biomass was not intended to be used in the <i>waste heat</i> combustion engine of the <a href="/facts/Robot/S5mDzWYk">robot</a>, and that sensors would be able to distinguish foraged materials, although the project overview from RTI listed other sources including chicken fat. </p>