Future Military Robots-An Insight

Everyone knows that being a soldier is a dangerous job, but some of the tasks that soldiers are required to do are more dangerous than others. Walking through minefields, deactivating unexploded bombs or clearing out hostile buildings, for example, are some of the most dangerous tasks a person is asked to perform in the line of duty. What if we could send robots to do these jobs instead of humans? Then, if something went wrong, we’d only lose the money it cost to build the robot instead of losing a human life. And we could always build more robots.

The bulldozer-size ACER can handle tasks like clearing explosives and hauling cargo.

The U.S. military has been developing robotic systems for all sorts of jobs for years now, and some of them are even on the front lines in Iraq. In this article, we’ll meet some of the military’s latest robot soldiers, find out what sorts of jobs they can do and get a glimpse of what the future holds for military robots.

Basic Training:

he military doesn’t use the kinds of humanoid assault robots we’ve come to expect from films like “The Terminator.” Whether or not a robot looks like a human doesn’t matter much in today’s military applications. Robots come in many shapes and sizes, and although there isn’t really any single definition of a robot, one common definition is this: a machine that is controlled, in whole or in part, by an onboard computer. Robots also have sensors that allow them to get information from their surroundings, some form of locomotion and a power source.

If military robots aren’t shaped like humans, what shapes do they come in? It depends on the kinds of jobs the robot is built to carry out. Robots that have to negotiate difficult terrain use tank treads. Flying robots look pretty much like small airplanes. Some robots are the size of trucks, and they look pretty much like trucks or bulldozers. Other, smaller robots have a very low profile to allow for great maneuverability.

This version of the ACER robot clears anti-personnel landmines.

Today’s military robots don’t do a whole lot on their own. Their computer brains aren’t very sophisticated in terms of artificial intelligence (AI). AI is a form of computer program that allows the robot to process information and make some decisions on its own. Instead of independent AI, most military robots are remote-controlled by human operators. The military doesn’t usually use the term “robot” — it calls them unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The 61-pound (28-kg) MATILDA robot can tow up to 475 lbs (215 kg).

One other important thing to remember about military robots: Robots designed to help soldiers on the battlefield have to be carried onto the battlefield by those soldiers. For that reason, robot builders try to design “man-portable” designs. A man-portable robot can be carried by a single soldier, usually in a special backpack.

Small Yet Powerful Bot:TALON

The most common robots currently in use by the military are small, flat robots mounted on miniature tank treads. These robots are tough, able to tackle almost any terrain and usually have a variety of sensors built in, including audio and video surveillance and chemical detection. These robots are versatile, with different sensor or weapon packages available that mount to the main chassis. Virtually all of them are man-portable.

TALON
The TALON is a man-portable robot operating on small treads. It weighs less than 100 lbs (45 kg) in its base configuration. TALON is designed to be very durable — one of the robots reportedly fell off a bridge and into a river in Iraq. Some time later, the soldiers set up the TALON’s control unit and simply drove it out of the river [ref]. That brings up another important feature of the TALON — it’s amphibious.

TALON is operated with a joystick control, has seven speed settings (top speed is 6 feet/1.8 meters per second) and can use its treads to climb stairs, maneuver through rubble and even take on snow.

TALON configurations

Versatility has been designed into the TALON as well, with multiple possible configurations available that adapt the robot to the situation at hand. The basic TALON includes audio and video listening devices and a mechanical arm. A lightweight (60-lb/27-kg) version omits the arm. TALONs were used for search and rescue at WTC Ground Zero, and they have been used in Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq for the disposal of live grenades, improvised explosive devices and other dangerous explosives.

Recently, the TALON was prepared to take on an even bigger role. All TALONs are now equipped with chemical, gas, temperature and radiation sensors. The military is even running tests on TALONs that carry guns. “TALON robots can be configured with M240 or M249 machine guns or Barrett 50-caliber rifles,” according to manufacturer Foster-Miller.

Assault TALON

The military is performing additional tests using TALON robots equipped with grenade launchers and anti-tank rocket launchers.

Powerful Flying Bot:

The military uses several different flying robots, mainly for reconnaissance. Instead of UGVs, these are known as UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), and they are sometimes referred to as drones. UAVs look like model aircraft, and they range in size from small planes that can be held by a person and launched with a good throw, like the FQM-151 Pointer, to full-size airplanes that operate by remote control, like the RQ-4A Global Hawk.

RQ-4A Global Hawk

Global Hawk Specifications

Northrop Grumman RQ-4A Global Hawk

• Length: 44 ft 4.75 in (13.53 m)
• Wingspan: 116 ft 2.5 in (35.42 m)
• Height: 15 ft 2.5 in (4.64 m)
• Weight empty: 14,800 lb (6,710 kg)
• Weight max: 25,600 lb (11,600 kg)
• Speed: 403 mph (648 kph)
• Ceiling: 65,000 ft (19,800 m)
• Range: 11,730 nautical miles (21,720 km)
• Endurance: 36 hours
• Propulsion: Rolls-Royce/Allison F137-AD-100 turbofan

Most Powerful Flying Bot:

Reconnaissance plays a key role in military planning — drones help military commanders keep track of their own troops and also spot enemy troops that might be waiting to ambush U.S. soldiers.

MQ-1 Predator UAV

Flying robots like the Predator provide constant real-time data on troop movements, enemy locations and weather. In at least one case, a flying robot did a lot more than just spot the enemy: Predators can be fitted with Hellfire missiles, and when one of these Air Force drones spotted an anti-aircraft gun in southern Iraq in March 2003, it used one of the Hellfires to take it out [ref].

The MQ-1 Predator Hunter/Killer is equipped with two Hellfire missiles and a targeting system.