Robot dogs in military service

The British Army has been using Boston Dynamics robot dogs for four days, which use artificial intelligence to detect and neutralize explosives. The military believes that the technology will revolutionize demining operations and significantly reduce the risk to human health.

The trials, organized by the government’s Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), also involved threat-recognition drones and autonomous vehicles that can open doors and climb stairs. The Ministry of Defense said that this development is in line with its strategic plan to introduce the latest technologies to strengthen national security. – The goal is to reduce the number of soldiers involved in demining. – Robot capabilities: autonomous threat detection, demining, interaction with other drones

Boston Dynamics is already using its Spot robots for maintenance at the British nuclear research center. However, the use of autonomous robots for military purposes is controversial:

• In 2021, New York City terminated its contract with Boston Dynamics after a public backlash.
• In 2022, San Francisco refused to allow police to use robots to eliminate threats.
• The Chinese and American militaries are already testing autonomous combat drones and robots with weapons in their arsenals.

The development of military robots continues, and despite ethical concerns, autonomous systems are becoming an integral part of modern warfare. AI, robotics, and drones are not only changing the nature of warfare, but also affecting civilian safety and law enforcement.