Robotics and the defense industry have a long-standing history. Robotics have helped enhance warfare tactics, be it offense or defense. They enhance the existing capabilities of soldiers, while keeping them out of harm’s way as much as they can, on land, in air and in water. Tesla was the first man in history to have thought of using remote-controlled vehicles in the defense systems. In 1889, he demonstrated a radio-controlled boat for the same, but his idea was rejected at that time. Fast forward to the next century - during WW I, many inventors came up with remote controlled disposable explosive devices, but they were never used because they were unreliable. The first known usage of robotics in war was during World War II. The Goliath tanks used by the Nazis as well as the Teletanks used by the Soviet Union were both radio-controlled. The former was a single-use, unmanned ground vehicle, much like a miniature tank. Upon the detonation of its warhead, it was destroyed, but in doing so, it could demolish buildings or bridges, disrupt dense military formations, destroy tanks, etc. It came in models that were electric or petrol-engine powered. The Soviet Teletanks were much bigger than the Goliath tanks, and came with a range of ammunition like DT machine guns, smoke cannisters, flamethrowers and sometimes even a 200-700kg time bomb. Although chemical weapons were never used by the Teletanks in the war, they did have the ability to carry them. The Teletank could be driven manually when not used in a war. Though crude and limited in their design, these two machines were quite revolutionary for their time and they paved the way for remote-controlled technologies for warfare. They paved the way for the robots of war we saw in Afghanistan, the most common of which were the unmanned aerial vehicle IAI Pioneer and RQ-1 Predator.
Applications of using robotics in the defense industry
The applications of military robots range from attack to rescue and from search to transport. Let us have a look at some of their most important applications.
Reconnaissance and surveillance
We no longer have to send personnel into suspicious, dangerous or difficult terrain for the purpose of reconnaissance and surveillance. Robotics has provided the answer in the forms of unmanned vehicles, be it on land, in air or in water. One of the earliest examples was DARPA’s Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) Shakey, developed in the 1960s. It had a TV camera, sensors, and computer guidance and navigation systems. A more recent example is Spot, the 4-legged robot dog tested by the French military. It can perform surveillance/reconnaissance missions either autonomously or by being controlled remotely. It is equipped with cameras and Wi-Fi connectivity and has rechargeable batteries. Being quadruped enables it to scale any terrain better than vehicles with wheels or treads. Drones, officially known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), are the most effective way for conducting aerial surveillance. They can be fast, quiet and don’t have to ever to pause for breaks, providing a 24/7 stream of information. Owning to being discreet, they can provide troop and building positions safer than humans can. They are also cheaper than manned crafts. One of the most memorable early drones was the B-17 Flying Fortress drone use by the US Airforce as early as 1946.
What’s better than one drone? A swarm of drones. Militaries are investing in swarms of compact drones with hi-tech cameras and batteries. In the near future, these cameras are also expected to have infrared vision, further improving the intel we get from them and helping the military access and predict
potential threats better. Some good example of drones are the RQ-4A Global Hawk, the U.S. MQ-9 Reaper/Predator B and the British Watchkeeper.
Logistics and ground support
One of the greatest challenges faced by the military is logistical problem of providing ground support infrastructure. A successful supply chain distributing water, food, clothing, medical supplies and ammunitions can pose a threat to the personnel in manned vehicles as they may have to navigate through dangerous combat terrain. By using Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), this risk is neutralized. A central controller can monitor UGVs at all times as they follow their pre-programmed routes.
Bomb Diffusion
This is perhaps one the most important areas in which robotics will shine in the military. Bringing down the risk of injuries and casualties, UGVs will be an important link for the identification and diffusion of bombs. Their range of operation has also been improved tremendously due to Wi-Fi connectivity. Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) robots can be merged with the bomb detecting systems. They can identify and disarm risky traps along with improvising explosives. E.g., Daksh is a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) used by the Indian defense services for bomb disposal. It can navigate staircases, slopes and narrow corridors in order to reach its target.
Fire-fighting robots
One of the hazards of war is fire. A robot equipped with hi-tech sensor cameras, a gas sensor as well as a stereo infrared camera (so as to be able to navigate through smoke) can detect and put out fires. Besides helping reduce casualties, they ensure that firefighting personnel don’t come to face any harm. They cam withstand higher temperatures and can navigate better than their human counterparts.
Naval capabilities
In the sea, autonomous surface vessels can perform several tasks like tracking enemy submarines and other vessels, detecting and deactivating mines, etc. The US defense agency's autonomous tracking vessel, Sea Hunter, is one such example. It can track enemy submarines for months on end in the open sea, without a single crew member, providing crucial feedback with minimal risk. The Madfox experimentation vessel of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom can detect and deactivate mines along with tracking enemy vessels. The Goalkeeper is a Dutch-built, autonomous, close-in weapon system (CIWS) that provides short-range defense against missiles, aircraft and smaller vessels, and was built in 1979.
Combat robots
Combat robots can undertake several tasks, like battle damage management, fire support, laying mines, aerial refueling, electronic warfare, etc. These have to be automated to a certain degree to ensure maximum efficiency and minimum damage, but not completely. This is in accordance with the laws of war set out in the Geneva Convention so as to ensure that targets are not within the restricted fire zones. UGVs can be fitted with bomb and missile systems for better range of the ammunitions. E.g., Uran-9 is a remotely operated armored vehicle that is equipped with 2A72 30mm cannon that has a rate of fire of 350-400 rounds per minute. It can also shoot high explosive incendiary and armor-piercing ammunition.
Troop cover
Besides providing offensive measure, robots can provide defensive measures as well. Armored UGVs can provide cover for a troop while leading them into combat zones. They are multi-functional and can have several operational modes. E.g., The Barakuda UGV of the French military is an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) that looks like a cross between a heavily armored car and tank. It acts like a ballistic shield for the troops. Besides providing reconnaissance with its 320° video turret, it comes with a stretcher and a disinfection kit as well.
Search and rescue robots
These robots can help retrieve injured soldiers safely and quickly. Without sending further personnel into risky zones, the command center of a military can send in these robots to search, track and rescue soldiers from terrain that may be hazardous in multiple ways. They can also be used to rescue civilians in case of a natural or a manmade disaster. E.g., PackBot is a search and rescue UGV by iRobot. They were popularly used during the 9/11 attacks, the Fukushima disaster and well as in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Advantages of using robotics in the defense industry
- They are better at threat sensing owing to their ability to process multiple streams of data at once.
- They can make split-second decisions as they are unaffected by emotions such as anger or pain
- They reduce human labor
- They have better “senses” of sight and sound compared to humans, thanks to infrared cameras, thermal cameras and SONAR.
- Improves recruitments (by using female and well as male oriented chatbots in recruitment sites, the U.S. defense industries improved the number of female applicants).
- They provide more preparedness. They facilitate transportation, especially heavy equipment.
- They can operate in dangerous environments, keeping human soldiers safe (nuclear, fires, mines, underwater, space, etc.)
- They can search for and rescue wounded soldiers/civilians in combat areas or in the case of natural or manmade disasters.
- They can perform tasks considered too risky, complex or even impossible for humans, hence bringing down the casualties
- It’s cheaper to put robots in the field as they don’t require food, shelter, clothing, water, sleep, protective clothing, stress relief, etc., hence making resupply chains obsolete.
- Unmanned vehicles are operationally cheaper in the longer run than manned vehicles. E.g., the autonomous tracking vessel, Sea Hunter, of the US defense agency saves about $680,000/day in running costs when compared to a crewed navy destroyer performing the same task.
- They’re more robust and resilient than human beings.
- They’re operationally more flexible and capable of multitasking.
- They enable long term savings.
- Drone technology can provide more detailed information of a wider area.
- They are more discreet than humans owing to their small sizes when it comes to covert surveillance.
- They are easily replaceable.
- It would be morally right to save the lives of human soldiers by sending in robots in their stead.
Conclusion
Defense robots accounted for about 11% of all service robots in 2017. This is only bound to keep growing, as more advancements are made in technologies of sensors, connectivity, etc. The global military robots’ market is expected to hit US$24.2 billion in 2025 with a CAGR of 10.7%., making them a norm in the defense systems of nations. In the U.S. army alone, it is expected that robots will outnumber service personnel by 2025! We may soon be reading newspaper headlines like, “Robotic army neutralizes terror camp; no casualties”. As long as they are used with a code of ethics, they will help save more lives than they take. With so many possibilities on the horizon, the future of robotics in defense seems to be a bright one, with robots safeguarding soldiers and civilians alike.
