We are all familiar with the quadcopter drones that everyone has seen. These small, low-altitude drones are the first thing we think of for ground soldiers. The war in Ukraine has shown the deployment and necessity of these quadcopters for military operations. Soldiers use them for reconnaissance, to view the surrounding area, and to carry small munitions once they find the enemy targets. The battlefield will never be the same because of the design, fielding, and overpowering employment of quadcopters on the battlefield. What are some of the other types of automated systems that are out there that will shape future battlefields?
Robot Dogs
My favorite automated ground system is the robot dog. These four-legged friends can accomplish a variety of tasks on the battlefield. Initially, they sold the idea of carrying extra loads for the infantry soldier. These robot dogs could carry a large amount of gear and ammunition to lighten the load of the soldier, and they could also be used in rescue operations to go where emergency personnel have trouble getting to. More recently, they are being looked at for offensive operations. Some have added a weapon to the robot dog and made it a controlled or automated killing machine. With cameras, sensors, and a remote control, these robot dogs can fire rounds at the enemy while the controller is safe behind cover. These killing robot dogs can even be equipped with artificial intelligence to track and fire upon targets, and I even watched a video where they attached a flame thrower to the dog. I speculate that the robot dog will likely be a weapon of choice for years to come.
Wheeled Segway Type Automated Systems
There are companies currently with a segway-looking automated system on the market. These wheeled automated systems resemble the popular segway, yet they do not need a rider. The segway drones have been marketed for security purposes. These wheeled drones can monitor large amounts of area with all sorts of amazing camera and sensor technologies. These high-tech security guards roam the assigned area and look for intruders or abnormalities with high resolution cameras of various sorts. With automated security guards, there is less error and more area covered without the need to pay a human to walk the assigned area. The wheeled security drones offer amazing security and surveillance capabilities for a variety of purposes. I would expect these segway drones will be used in a security context by various installations to augment current guard duties.
Unmanned Tanks
There are also the unmanned tanks. There is not any doubt that these miniature robot tanks have a more sinister purpose. These small tanks can be deployed on the battlefield and be controlled by a user, and there is also the ability to operate autonomously. A battlefield littered with automated killing machines is truly a scary thought, yet it is something that needs to be considered.
The Future Battlefield Covered with Drones
I expected the automated drones to take a humanoid form such as those in the Terminator series. Many years ago, I imagined these humanoid, two-legged killing machines to augment and replace the traditional infantry soldier on the battlefield. One talking head on automated drones explained that the humanoid-type drones would be most useful in a factory or warehouse setting, where the workspace was designed for the humans to perform the work functions. On the battlefield, I would argue that other shapes and purposes will have a more lethal and lasting impact on future warfare. Quadcopters are not the only drones on the block. Robot dogs, wheeled segway systems, and unmanned tanks are here and available for battlefield operations. Whether they will be controlled by a human operator or act autonomously remains to be seen.
