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New AI & Military Tech 2023: How Are Robots Changing Warfare?
Credit: @Freepik
Military tech, just like space initiatives, has always been a field to explore if you’re interested in upcoming technologies. It’s on the battlefield that you’ll see the latest inventions put into practical use, and later become commercially viable. That’s how we got bulletproof vests and the internet, after all.
However, the warfare landscape has been changing for a few years, and AI is already playing a huge role in the weaponry and equipments used by armies from all around the world. This change has been acknowledged by the US Department of Defense recently. Today, we offer you a look at the newest military tech that changes how nations approach conflicts.
Credit: @ Prox Dynamics AB
The Black Hornet Nano: You can Run, But You Can’t Hide
The Black Hornet Nano is a UAV drone developed by Prox Dynamics AB, a Norwegian company. This drone is shaped like a helicopter, and you can hold it with two fingers. This little drone is used on the battlefield to detect threats. Despite its small size, the Black Hornet costs $200,000, but it’s a valuable tool since it’s very hard to detect.
An operator can learn how to use it in around 20 minutes, and it’s also the autonomy of its battery. With a top speed of 21 km/h and a 1.6 km range, the Black Hornet is one of the most efficient portable UAV ever created, recording and capturing still images with three cameras.
Credit: @Qinetiq
Qinetiq’s RCV-L: A Mini Democracy Deliverer
Qinetiq is one of the biggest defense contractors, and they’re working with the US government to implement a new vehicle on the battlefield: the RCV-L. The RCV-L or Robotic Command Vehicle Light, is a scary beast. This vehicle is completely unmanned, and it’s a ground combat vehicle, so, basically a mini-tank. It runs with a diesel-electric hybrid that can reach speeds up to 64.37 km/h.
Although primarily intended for reconnaissance, it’s heavily armed, and Qinetiq has prepared it to be able to assist in both defending and attacking. After the early prototypes turned out successful, the vehicle has been delivered to the US army in 2020.
Credit: @Boston Dynamics
Boston Dynamics’ Dog: No Weapons? No Problem
Boston Dynamics has generated a lot of buzz when it showcased its robotic creations a couple of years ago, and you may even remember the spoof video made by Corridor Digital, imagining one of their robots fighting. The company may have signed on a pledge not to build war robots, but it didn’t prevent the use of their Spot robot dog use.
The little robot dog was recently used by the French army during training, and even though Boston Dynamics acted shocked to learn about it, it’s evident they knew. Honestly, the robot is called spot, and it was sold to the army, so even if the company refuses to have their creation armed, it still agrees to sell it to governments.
Credit: @Freepik / MyTechPiece
Call of AI: Unmanned Warfare
These devices are currently controlled remotely for the most part, but various armies around the world are already working on automating them. The US Army already has drones that can use facial recognition to find and destroy targets without human intervention, and the Chinese, Koreans, and Russians also have their own versions of these killer robots.
War has changed, and it’s evident that the nations that can’t buy or develop robots or AI tools to assist on the battlefield will soon become obsolete.
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