IT'S feared that robots will one day declare war on humans and slaughter every single one of us.

Today this nightmare scenario came one step closer with the development of a "predator robot" that's designed to hunt down prey with deadly efficiency.

2 Could robots one day hunt animals or even HUMANS? Credit: Caters News Agency

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Swiss researchers have designed a machine that's capable of identifying and chasing victims just like a tiger or lion.

Currently, the predator 'bot has only been tasked with hunting another robot, but it's not hard to see similar technology being used in death droids designed to target human beings.

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In a highly technical paper, experts from the University of Zulrich described using an artificial brain called a neutral network to help their robot recognise its target.

It uses laser beams to detect another robot, going into prowl mode if it doesn't see its victim. This means the predator is capable of walking around, searching for its prey.

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Although the predator robot can only travel at about six miles per hour, researchers said this speed would increase to about 37 miles per hour if it was built to be the size of a car.

The research does have some benefits to humanity, because the technology could be used to make sure driverless cars don't hit other automobiles or pedestrians.

Tobi Delbruck, professor at the Institute of Neuroinformatics, said that "one could imagine future luggage or shopping carts that follow you" using the system.

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There's also another obvious use clear use: real hunting.

The world is currently rushing to develop killer robots capable of massacring humans without needing to be controlled from a central military base.

Anyone working to design these machines would find today's research extremely interesting.

Robots might not be able to hunt down and assassinate humans just yet, but you can bet your life that a real killer robot will be unleashed on humanity sooner or later.