The future of military robots

The military is undoubtedly the first user of new technologies and advancement, in technique, and is likewise, very regularly, the booster for new developments, when it becomes decisive to invent new technologies for military systems. Several essential technologies, which were used in the military for the first time, have become part of the industrial robot currently. However, the definition of industrial robotics and military robotics is still very different.

The military has definitive, robotized equipment, that are related to very different applications and differ to those robots that are used for industrial production, in a way that they do not produce things, but have to interact in warfare.

The concept, nevertheless, is the same; a device has to fulfill some tasks automatically to qualify as a robot. In military terms, technology focuses on the control of missiles and vehicles in order to have unmanned devices that are either teleoperated or that find their way, automatically guided by laser beams or GPS satellites.

At present, robots move on land, in the air, in the water, and in space. Terrestrial mobility uses legs, treads, and wheels. Flying robots make use of jet engines, propellers, and wings. Underwater robots may resemble submarines, fish, or even lobsters.

Some vehicles capable of moving in more than one medium or terrain have been built. Service robots, designed for such applications as vacuum cleaning, floor washing and lawn mowing, have been sold in large quantities in recent years. There are also moves being made to develop cyborg soldiers - humans and animals augmented by technology.

Many military organizations take the help of military robots for risky jobs. The robots used in military are usually employed within integrated systems that include video screens, sensors, grippers, and cameras. Military robots find major applications in surveillance, reconnaissance, location and destruction of mines and IEDs, as well as for offense or attack.

Technological advances permit the developers to create new systems for more assignments. Unmanned ground vehicles will be of huge value for such programs for the reason that they are already competent of executing several tasks.

"A converted Humvee has already driven around military bases at an average of thirty-five miles per hour and never veered from its planned route by more than eight inches." This facility would allow to send supply convoys, again decreasing human losses. Also, it permit military to send ground robots as pioneers instead of soldiers. Cameras transmit images of the scene, in order to give the soldiers an expectation of what lies ahead. This is not absolutely new, however in the future, those robots will carry weapons and be able to perform a wider set of battlefield roles.

One such robot already exists as a prototype. As small as a golf cart, the robot is controlled by a PlayStation video game controller or software plug-ins, which allows semi-automatic and fully autonomous modes. The fully equipped robot carries a machine gun, rockets, and non-lethal weapons.

A future scenario may include robot sentries that guard not only military installations but also factories, government buildings, and the like. As these guards acquire increasing autonomy, they may not only challenge visitors and ask them to provide identification but will be equipped with a variety of sensors for this purpose: vision systems, bar code readers, microphones, and so on. Vision systems (and, if needed, fingerprint readers) along with large graphic memories may be used to perform the identification. More importantly, the guards will be equipped with weapons enabling them to arrest and, if necessary, to disable or kill a potential intruder who refuses to stop and be identified.

No matter what robotic developments will enter military work, they all have a common goal: to minimize human losses on their side and increase efficiency. Technological advances will always enable engineers to build new devices and, provided that they are creative enough, there will be a lot of innovations within the sector of the military robot.

History has shown that the military makes use of every innovation that has the potential to support military work. In ancient times, there were innovations, such as metalworking or gun powder; in modern times, robotic devices have become popular. If one product proves to be useful, development of it will be pushed.

Robotics' experiences search for a push right now. The military has recognized that automatic devices are far more efficient than the use of human soldiers, as there is a reduced risk of mistakes and the devices can also be equipped with powerful weapons. The military has recognized another advantage, too: more and more robots can do dangerous work that was previously undertaken by humans.

The use of robots for such tasks makes a soldier's work much more secure; it can even saves lives. Certainly, most nations try to avoid wars and battles but in order to achieve peace in conflict zones, a well prepared military is crucial. The realistic concept that the military still performs life-threatening tasks is reason enough to develop robots that will support soldiers on their missions.

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