The Rev-9 Terminator is an exceptionally durable machine capable of withstanding gunfire, blunt-force trauma, and high-altitude falls without sustaining damage due to its liquid metal shell that enables self-healing [1]. Remarkably, it can be separated into two independent units as a combination of the T-800's endoskeleton and the T-1000's liquid metal skin [6, 7]. Moreover, it can mimic human emotions and behaviors, including lying and joking, and can imitate specific individuals by physical contact while subsequently killing them. Additionally, the Rev-9 can hack into various devices, access data through its 'body,' and connect to security cameras and databases using WIFI [1]. Regarding parallels in real life, we don't have anything so advanced, but we do see glimpses, such as "Spot," a robot developed by Boston Dynamics [9].
After Skynet was destroyed, the T-800 Terminator evolved to have/mimic human emotions. It was bulletproof. Much like the Rev-9 terminator, we don't have anything so advanced currently, but we see potential with projects such as "Spot," a robot developed by Boston Dynamics [9].
T-800 Terminator (Carl) [2]
X-ray of Grace Harper [14]
Grace Harper is from the Legion timeline and has returned from the future to protect Dani Ramos from the Rev-9 terminator that had traveled to kill her. While she was fighting with other Rev-9 terminators in the future, she got hurt, lost a lot of blood, and was going to die. Hence, she was augmented, which gave her enhanced human features, such as increased speed, strength, and combat skills, to fight the Rev-9 Terminators. Currently, this technology is being developed in the bionic and prosthetic fields. Currently, robotic muscles are 100 times slower than human muscles; however, MIT's new theory could allow them to be 1000 times faster, using no extra energy and having a more elegant design [13].
CCTV cameras were used extensively by the Rev-9 terminator to track down its targets. Their use in this film is consistent with their use in modern times for surveillance and security. CCTV cameras were introduced in 1942 and underwent innovations such as AI object detection and enhanced video processing over the decades. Becoming a responsive, digital system that combats crime and provides safety [5]. As of 2019, when this movie was released, more than 3,000 people monitored computer screens in Ecuador with 4,300 cameras and 16 centers across the country [11].
Grace Harper's power source [3]
In "Terminator: Dark Fate," Grace is powered by a microreactor, a futuristic technology that enables her super strength, speed, and combat skills. Thorium nuclear reactors have their basis in real life, with advantages over traditional uranium, such as safety and being more environmentally friendly [4]. Thorium-based nuclear reactors were first developed and tested in 1968 by Glenn Seaborg. [12]
Located in Mexico City, this place collects loads of information on many people. It is updated constantly, and Rev-9 Terminator can effortlessly hack and use the information to track Dani Ramos. Large data centers, as depicted in the film, have their basis in real life. Many can be found in the state of Virginia, which hosts many big tech company's data centers, such as Google, Microsoft. and Meta [8].
Rathium Data Center [15]
Sources:
Rev-9, (Terminator Wiki), https://terminator.fandom.com/wiki/Rev-9 (April 3rd, 2024)
https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/terminator-dark-fate-arnold-schwarzenegger-1571062777.jpg (April 3rd, 2024)
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/terminator/images/7/71/Tdf-thoriumreactor-film-grace-surgery.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/1000?cb=20200115160441 (April 3rd, 2024)
Tobias Walker. Thorium Reactors: A Safer and Sustainable Nucular Future, (October 18th, 2023) https://www.azocleantech.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=1749#:~:text=Thorium%20reactors%20use%20thorium%20as,the%20nuclear%20fuel%20is%20dissolved. (April 7th, 2024)
Clearway, "When was CCTV invented?", (Clearway, April 05, 2024) https://www.clearway.co.uk/news/when-was-cctv-invented/#:~:text=CCTV%20was%20invented%20by%20Walter,that%20CCTV%20became%20available%20commercially. (April 7th, 2024)
T-1000, (Terminator Wiki), https://terminator.fandom.com/wiki/T-1000 (April 8th, 2024)
T-800, (Terminator Wiki), https://terminator.fandom.com/wiki/T-800 (April 8th, 2024)
VEDP, "Data Centers", (VEDP) https://www.vedp.org/industry/data-centers (April 29th, 2024)
Boston Dynamics, "Products" (Boston Dynamics, February 13, 2024) https://bostondynamics.com/products/ (April 29th, 2024)
Boston Dynamics, "Boston Dynamics Expands Global Sales of Spot® Robot" (Boston Dynamics, April 25, 2024) https://bostondynamics.com/news/boston-dynamics-expands-global-sales-of-spot-robot/ (April 29th, 2024)
Paul Mozur, Jonah M. Kessel & Melissa Chan, Made in China, Exported to the World: The Surveillance State, (The New York Times, April 24th, 2019), https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/24/technology/ecuador-surveillance-cameras-police-government.html (April 29th, 2024)
Uguru Edwin Humphrey & Mayeen Uddin Khandaker, "Viability of thorium-based nuclear fuel cycle for the next generation nuclear reactor: Issues and prospects", (Elsevier, December 2018) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032118305951#s0005 (March 1st, 2024)
Cathryn M. Delude, MIT closes in on bionic speed, (MIT news, November 7th, 2005), https://news.mit.edu/2005/muscle (April 30th, 2024)
Miller, T. (2019). Terminator: Dark Fate. Paramount Pictures (1:00:08)
Miller, T. (2019). Terminator: Dark Fate. Paramount Pictures (46:23)