Robot Snipers: Attaching Rifles to Robots - Future of Warfare?

The Rise of Robotic Weaponry and Autonomous Systems

The integration of firearms onto robotic platforms has become a pressing concern, particularly since the advent of advanced quadrupedal robots. Recent demonstrations, such as a Ghost Robotics system equipped with a remotely operated sniper rifle developed by SWORD, have brought this issue to the forefront.

Boston Dynamics has actively sought to distance itself from the development of war machines, recognizing the potential for negative public perception. However, the company’s origins in DARPA-funded research and the resemblance of its robots to science fiction depictions complicate this position.

Addressing Concerns About Intimidation and Violence

Discussions surrounding the use of Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot for potentially aggressive purposes have been ongoing. Concerns extend to the broader implications of arming robots, a practice generally viewed with disapproval.

CEO Jiren Parikh of Ghost Robotics describes their systems as “walking tripods,” emphasizing that the company does not design the weapon payloads, like the SWORD Defense Systems Special Purpose Unmanned Rifle (SPUR). This raises critical ethical questions regarding accountability – does responsibility lie with the robotics manufacturer, the weapons provider, or the end user, such as the military?

As the possibility of armed robotic units increases, it is vital to address these complex questions.

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Autonomy and Control

Currently, the robots themselves do not employ autonomous targeting systems or artificial intelligence for weapon control. The weapon systems, such as those produced by SWORD, utilize a manual firing trigger, and human operators are responsible for all targeting decisions.

The company is hesitant to pursue full autonomy in this context. While they do not directly manufacture weapon payloads, they acknowledge the difficulty of controlling how military customers utilize their robots.

Ghost Robotics restricts sales to the U.S. and allied governments, declining inquiries from countries like Russia and China, even for commercial applications.

Licensing and Application Control

The company maintains control through licensing agreements, carefully selecting customers and limiting sales to governments they deem trustworthy. They recognize that military customers may not fully disclose their intended uses, but support applications that enhance national security or protect personnel.

The vetting process focuses on the customers chosen, rather than the specific applications they intend to use the robots for.

Requests for inappropriate uses, such as entertainment or sensationalized demonstrations, are consistently declined. The company views its robots as serious tools for inspections, security, and military operations.

Deployment Timeline and Deal Structure

Field testing of the sniper kit is anticipated to begin in late-Q1 of the following year. The arrangement between Ghost Robotics and SWORD is a result of the latter identifying a market opportunity and independently developing the system.

Beyond Land: Advances in Air and Sea Robotics

Shifting focus from land-based operations, Reliable Robotics, a company specializing in autonomous cargo planes, recently secured $100 million in Series C funding, bringing their total funding to $130 million. This investment aims to replicate the autonomous trucking model in the aviation sector.

Wing, an Alphabet division, is expanding its drone delivery services following successful trials in Australia and Virginia. A new partnership with Walgreens will bring autonomous deliveries to the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.

Wing is actively working on the regulatory aspects of drone delivery.

Saildrone, a company deploying autonomous boats for data collection, also received $100 million in Series C funding. Their fleet of uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) has already accumulated over half a million miles of operational experience.

Robotics and the Future of Work

A recent report from The New York Times highlighted the increasing adoption of robotic waiters due to pandemic-related staffing shortages. Interestingly, wait staff have observed an increase in tips when robotic assistance is utilized.

This trend supports the idea that robots will not necessarily replace human jobs, but rather augment them and address labor gaps. In situations where full automation is not yet feasible, robots can free up human employees to focus on more complex and interpersonal tasks.

This suggests a potential shift towards a collaborative human-robot workforce.