Feasting Robots: Unraveling DARPA's Biomass Harvesters

DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, does not have a "dead eating robot" project or program that I'm aware of. However, you may be referring to some rumors or exaggerations around DARPA's efforts to create robots capable of harvesting useful materials from dead plants and animals.

Specifically:

DARPA has funded research into using robots to find and collect dead biomass for energy production. The idea is that robots could collect plant material, convert it to biofuel, and use that to power themselves in remote environments.

This concept is likely where the myths around "dead eating robots" come from. There are no DARPA robots designed to consume or digest dead animals or humans. The biofuel robots would just collect already dead biomass, not kill anything themselves.

There may also be some sensationalism around DARPA's efforts to have robots identify casualties on a battlefield and handle remains respectfully. This technology aims to help provide proper support and identification of fallen soldiers, not disturb or consume them.

So in summary - DARPA works on a lot of advanced robotics with potential military applications. But there are no programs specifically around robots that kill or eat things, despite some rumors to that effect. The reality is much more straightforward research into remote energy harvesting and battlefield logistics.