Robots Arming For Combat Duty

摘要

Unmanned ground systems on the battlefield provide critical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance data and help counter improvised explosive devices. Now, ground robots are positioned to expand into armed missions in Afghanistan. Three U.S. Army units—two active duty and one National Guard—are preparing to go to war with robots armed, for now, with nonlethal weapons for force protection at fixed locations, such as garrisons and combat outposts. The Army and Marines also are hammering out the tactics, techniques and procedures for using armed robots. Additionally, the Army expects later this year to finish the requirements document for the Multi-Mission Unmanned Ground System, which will include an armed version capable of deploying with small tactical units, possibly as early as 2013.