Compass Points - Rise of Robots
The robots are here.
Compass Points - Rise of Robots
The robots are here.
July 18, 2024
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The rise of the robots is here.
Just as drones are even now a huge part of the fighting in Ukraine, all future conflicts will make use of a variety of drones, robots, and unmanned systems, not only in the air, but at sea, undersea, and on the ground.
Still, no matter how advanced robots become. Robots will never possess the one crucial ingredient that victory in war always requires.
What is the crucial ingredient needed in battle?
First, there is news about the Marine Corps receiving new ground tactical robots.
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ARLINGTON, Virginia — The Marine Corps has ordered hundreds of new Micro Tactical Ground Robot systems that can perform a variety of missions for the service.
The robots — manufactured by Israel-based Roboteam — are lightweight, portable platforms designed to be used indoors and outdoors for tactical missions including explosive ordnance disposal, special operations and other missions. They weigh about 16 pounds, are teleoperated and come with a remote controller, keeping the user out of potentially harmful situations.
Matan Shirvi, the company’s CEO, said the robots — previously sold to the Air Force — were “modified” to fit the Marine Corps’ needs.
The models the Marine Corps will receive are the fourth and newest edition and have improved communications links as well as updated cameras, Shirvi said in an interview. The control unit can also operate several robots simultaneously, Shirvi said.
-- National Defense Magazine
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The US Army is going even further with robots, drones, and unmanned systems.
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Soldiers at both the Maneuver Center of Excellence and the National Training Center are testing out new platoon formations that integrate robots and other technology into dangerous combat scenarios.
Gen. James Rainey, head of Army Futures Command, described a recent scenario conducted by a light infantry platoon at Fort Moore, Georgia, during remarks at the Association of the U.S. Army periodic featured speakers event at the organization’s Arlington, Virginia headquarters.
“We’re prototyping platoons,” Rainey said. “This isn’t Power Point; we have our first human-machine integrated formation for light infantry.”
MCOE Experimental Company, 1st Battalion, 29th Infantry Regiment, 316th conducted an urban assault. But instead of human soldiers rushing across open areas and bursting into buildings, robots took the lead.
Rainey said 20 soldiers with four robotic vehicles were able to cross the open terrain to reach the building. But first robots with smoke generators created a screen.
At the same time, robot vehicles with tethered drones jammed enemy signals and extended the soldiers’ network. Small drones dropped robotic ground vehicles with cameras atop buildings to scout the interior while even smaller aerial drones entered windows, scanning the inside of the structure and transmitting back a “blueprint” of the building to soldiers on the ground.
Then robot “dogs” with cameras of their own, entered the building looking for hazards and seeking out enemy troops.
-- Army Times
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As important as robots, drones, and unmanned systems are becoming, civilians who advocate for technology always let their enthusiasm for technology go too far. CEO Matan Shirvi, of the company supplying new ground robots to the Marine Corps says,
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“We believe that the soldiers have to be as far as they can from dangerous, dangerous locations,” Shirvi said. “This is what we are doing. We’re giving the soldier the buffer that he needs in order for him not to get hurt.” . . . “Any area that makes human life dangerous to live, I believe that robots will replace [humans,] and they should replace them", he said.
-- National Defense Magazine
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The civilian CEO has a wonderful vision of battles without risk. He dreams of wars where soldiers stay far away from danger, where robots are put at risk, but never humans. It is a wonderful dream, but it is a dream that can never come true.
There are no riskless wars. There are no battles that are safe. There is no technology that can erase danger. Armed conflict between humans is about will, risk, and danger.
In the original version of the movie, True Grit, John Wayne's character Rooster Cogburn has captured a wanted criminal and is taking him back for trial. While riding, Rooster and his prisoner are stopped in an open field by four men on horseback who want to take the criminal from Rooster and hang him themselves. Despite being outnumbered, Rooster refuses. The two parties stare at each other. Finally, Rooster says, "I'm willing to die to try and keep him. Are you willing to die trying to take him?" For a moment nothing happens. Then, Rooster simply snorts in disgust, takes the reins of the criminal's horse, and they both ride through the other riders who do nothing.
Using technology to protect warriors is a good thing. But there are no riskless battles. Battles have always been and will always be about two opposing groups of warriors, both willing to risk -- not just their robots -- but their own lives. Robots will be a useful tool in future conflicts, but robots will never have that one crucial ingredient that is always needed to win in battle; robots will never have courage. No matter the odds, the adversary, or the technology, Marines bring an indomitable will to battle. Marines bring courage.
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National Defense Magazine - 7/16/2024
Israeli Company to Supply Marine Corps with Small, Tactical Robots
By Kara Thompson
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Army Times - 12/13/2023
Robots in the ranks: Army integrating robots in two platoons
By Todd South
Meanwhile in other news ships and men go to rot in port. If the MLR is stagnant on the first island chain what use are the robots…oh of course the robots will be the SIF! They will be manned and operated from Quantico, so no need for Marines in harms way!
Just another diversion from the reality of the past 5,000 or so years of man and his wars which have only increased in their speed and lethality. It seems that we are still basically using men and war fighting skills to subdue the opposing force.
No doubt we can look forward to a further divestiture of Marines and their equipment to invest in this brilliant new technology. By the way what after actions reports are available from the manufacturer of the robots in the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip? Might to interesting and good intelligence to know how the IDF is employing these robots in real time and in hot actions in the urban environment. Might be instructive.
The use of technology is here and anything to be more effective and lethal, but the siren song of advanced equipment to make warfighting as it has been and is now, obsolete, is being ignored to a large degree in the Ukraine conflict by all accounts. Lessons learned??
I wonder how many doors were closed for this exercise?