The 5 Most Impressive Military Robots Used on the Battlefield

Compared to just a few decades ago, the face of modern warfare has changed exponentially, thanks in large part to new advances in technology. New advances in portability, durability, and functionality have not only provided soldiers around the world with newer and better weapons and armor, but also additional support in the form of robotic companions. These military devices range from remote-controlled battlefield assistants who handle otherwise dangerous tasks to fully autonomous weapons platforms that support entire brigades.

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There are some The frightening military applications of AIand we have not yet reached the point where robotic warfare can completely replace traditional warfare. Still, many of these robotic devices have been used to some degree on the battlefield, either for testing and development purposes or during full-scale conflicts. Robotics companies around the world have been building robots for these purposes for years, and many of these devices have made a name for themselves.

When it comes to military-grade robots, one of the biggest names on the scene is PackBot, a bomb disposal robot that has been in use since 2000. Roomba was developed by the company iRobotPackBot was later acquired by Teledyne FLIR in 2019. Before and after this acquisition, PackBot has not only been used on the battlefield but also in various civil support roles, including being used to survey hazardous areas following the 2011 Fukushima reactor meltdown in Japan.

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The current generation of PackBot, the 510 model, is equipped with a number of tricks for surveying a danger zone, including terrain-traversing treads, real-time video, audio, and sensor feeds, and a powerful manipulator arm. Despite all this hardware, PackBot is both lightweight and compact enough to fit comfortably in the trunk of a regular car, and can be deployed from its packed state in just two minutes. PackBot’s bread-and-butter mission is remote bomb disposal, where both live feeds and the manipulator arm are used to carefully dismantle live explosives left in a hot zone.

Active war zones aren’t the only places that could benefit from a little robotic intervention. Small-scale conflicts waged by counter-terrorism and special operations teams may also need some assistance, but because the conflicts are smaller, they require a robotic companion who understands the art of subtlety. The robot of choice for discrete, tactical conflicts is DOGO, developed by General Robotics.

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DOGO provides everything a team could need in a close-quarters situation, from added situational awareness to a means for remote negotiations with enemies, and even lethal engagements. DOGO can be equipped with a small-caliber pistol, including the Glock 26 or Sig Sauer P320SC. With a simple tap of DOGO’s remote-controlled touchscreen, the device can fire up to five rounds in approximately two seconds, hitting targets up to 18 feet away. For missions where lethal force is deterred, a special non-lethal version of DOGO is available that replaces the pistol mount with a disorienting strobe light or pepper spray launcher.

Did you ever grow up with one of those remote-controlled toys that boasted the ability to tip over without breaking? That idea is invaluable in dangerous situations. After all, a silent, shock-resistant remote camera can accomplish all sorts of covert reconnaissance tasks, especially if you can safely launch it onto a rooftop you’d normally be unable to reach. That’s the key design factor for the Throwbot by Recon Robotics.

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The current interaction, Throwbot 2, is absolutely tiny, standing at just 4.5 inches tall and weighing just over a pound. This tiny module is equipped with a pair of chunky wheels that can roll over obstacles and uneven terrain while producing less than 59 dBa of noise. Combine that with integrated day and night cameras and listening audio, and you have a portable spy who can sneak just about anywhere. But the device’s real claim to fame is its durability. The Throwbot 2 can be safely thrown up to 120 feet and can also withstand repeated drops from heights of up to 30 feet. This allows operators to launch it short distances from their positions, as well as onto rooftops and ledges.

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The important thing to remember about any armed conflict is that it can always evolve and escalate. New intelligence, enemy responses, or even something as simple as a change in weather can require immediate responses. This can be a bit of a challenge to design a robot for, because like any electronic device, most robots are designed to do exactly one thing. The Modular Advanced Armed Robotic System, or MAARS, is not like most robots. Created by QinetiQ, this all-in-one unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) is designed to handle most developments in an armed conflict with its fully modular design and to assist soldiers and personnel in the middle of a hot zone.

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The primary purpose of MAARS is to act as a conduit for surveillance missions, reconnaissance missions, and intelligence gathering, including target acquisition. All of this is accomplished through a series of day and night cameras, motion detectors, and acoustic microphones. MAARS can only be operated by coded instructions sent from its operator, making it exceptionally resistant to enemy interference. If pushed, MAARS can use its mounted weapons, which range from non-lethal blinding lights to a powerful machine gun and grenade launcher.

While most military robots are designed for more nuanced tasks like gathering intelligence and operating in dangerous areas, some are designed to be in the thick of things alongside (or, preferably, in place of) human operators. With advanced motion and automation technology, just about anything can be made to operate without an operator on board, including a full-fledged military tank. If you want a military robot that can both gather intelligence and get into the thick of a fight, then Textron Systems’ RIPSAW M5 is the place to go.

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The latest version of the RIPSAW automatic tool series, the RIPSAW M5, full size remote control tank Equipped with rubber tracks, it is ready for almost any battlefield terrain, moving through obstacles and enemy barriers. Using the TeledyneFLIR system, RIPSAW has full 360-degree awareness of its surroundings, equipped with AI support to detect objects and obstacles. For combat, it can be equipped with a modular flat-deck medium-caliber gun, CROWS-Javelin missile launchers, and even a counter-weapon system against other UGVs.