Military robot

Military robots are autonomous robots or remote-controlled mobile robots designed for military applications, from transport to search & rescue and attack.

"Robot soldier", "robotic soldier", and "artificial soldier" redirect here. For the article dealing with the general concept of robotic, artificially enhanced, cybernetic, or cyborg soldiers, see Supersoldier. For the autonomous military robots that specifically engage in armed conflict and attacks, see Lethal autonomous weapon.

Some such systems are currently in use, and many are under development.

MIDARS, a four-wheeled robot outfitted with several cameras, radar, and possibly a firearm, that automatically performs random or preprogrammed patrols around a military base or other government installation. It alerts a human overseer when it detects movement in unauthorized areas, or other programmed conditions. The operator can then instruct the robot to ignore the event, or take over remote control to deal with an intruder, or to get better camera views of an emergency. The robot would also regularly scan radio frequency identification tags (RFID) placed on stored inventory as it passed and report any missing items.

Tactical Autonomous Combatant (TAC) units, described in study Unmanned Effects: Taking the Human out of the Loop.^[11]

Project Alpha

is an experimental robotic weapons system being developed by the U.S. Army since 2005.^[12]^[13] It consists of a remotely operated sniper rifle attached to an unmanned autonomous helicopter.^[14] It is intended for use in urban combat or for several other missions requiring snipers.^[15] Flight tests are scheduled to begin in summer 2009.^[12]

Autonomous Rotorcraft Sniper System

The "Mobile Autonomous Robot Software" research program was started in December 2003 by who purchased 15 Segways in an attempt to develop more advanced military robots.^[16] The program was part of a $26 million Pentagon program to develop software for autonomous systems.^[16]

the Pentagon

Effects and impact[edit]

Advantages[edit]

Autonomous robotics would save and preserve soldiers' lives by removing serving soldiers, who might otherwise be killed, from the battlefield. Lt. Gen. Richard Lynch of the United States Army Installation Management Command and assistant Army chief of staff for installation stated at a 2011 conference: