Border patrol agents are getting creative when it comes to protecting the U.S. border. In fact, they have turned to new and advance technology to facilitate the prevention of smuggled drugs and people into the United States. The robot age is here; hope they don't turn on us like they did on I, Robot! (These robots aren't that advance, not to worry).

The Associated Press reports that the robots are basically eyes on wheels, remote controlled by U.S. Border Patrol at the Mexican/American borderlines. For a long time, criminals have been able to construct hidden tunnels under the dessert to smuggle drugs and people from Mexico into the United States. It has been difficult for border officers to go into the dark tunnels, presenting danger on the other side, so now they have robots who will do it.

Kevin Hecht, a tunnel expert and U.S. Border Patrol officer explains, " if we find a tunnel we would like to send a robot in to clear the tunnel and identify any threats, contraband, potential people with weapons and let the agent know ahead of time if the tunnel is structurally sound." Since 1990, 168 tunnels have been discovered across the Mexico border and in 2011 a tunnel was found in San Diego, smuggling 32 tons of marijuana into America. And get this -- it was equipped with rail cars and electricity. Wild, huh?

Hecht adds that the robots take care of the first step to exploring these tunnels by letting them know if there's a breech through a camera right on the remote control. The robots join in the fight to protect the 2,000-mile border, adds the Associated Press. The technology of tomorrow joins us today as robots seem to soon become man's best friend.

What are your feelings towards robots? Is this a good idea?