The Army Futures Command is pushing plans forward when it comes to integrating robots into the U.S. Army. On December 13, 2023, General James Rainey made a statement at a media round table, updating the public on the future of Army robots. The overarching message was that the Army Futures Command hopes to integrate two robotic platoon prototypes with human Soldiers. This experimentation is occuring either late 2024 or early 2025.Suggested read: Fat Leonard Update: $35 Million Navy Scandal Fugitive Is Back Stateside

Current Uses For Robots In Army Roles

Although the Army is not at the stage where they can start deploying Army robot Soldiers, tests have already begun for the use of robots in military missions. The MCOE Experimental Company, 1st Battalion, 29th Infantry, and the 316th led an urban assault that integrated robots in with Soldiers for the mission. Gen. Rainey stated that 20 Soldiers manned four robotic vehicles to reach their building destination, with the robots working alongside them to generate a smokescreen.These were not the only robots partaking in the urban assault. In fact, robot vehicles with tethered drones were sent out to jam enemy signals. Additionally, they were surveying the inside of their target building using the Army robot “dog.” This "dog" was seeking out potential inside hazards.Related read: China’s Armed Robot Dog Was Ripped Straight From Star Wars

What’s In Store for the Future of U.S. Army Robotics?

While there have already been some implementation of Army robots, their goals go beyond a dog robot army. In a quote given by Rainey, he stated:“So, the big idea is that the Army of the future is going to be wholly combined between machines optimized to do what machines do and humans optimized to do what humans do. But that's a big giant elephant.”The mission that they conducted for the urban assault was a prototyping of the platoons with a combination of both humans and robots. Moving forward, they are planning two platoons that are either fully robotic, or platoons that integrate machines with humans. The two platoon types will have one platoon focused on light infantry and the other would be for armored forces. One of these platoons is at the Maneuver Center of Excellence, and the other will be at the National Training Center. While they are not yet perfect, the end goal is late 2024 or early 2025.

The U.S. Army Robot's Goal

The immediate goal for Army robots is to work defensively. As it stands, robots are not able to keep up with the modern fast-moving formations. Once they can do so, the eventual goal is to have these robots in offensive operations. The primary goal is to resupply Soldiers and evacuate casualties. They hope Soldiers will not have to risk themselves in situations that could cost their lives, as robots could perform those tasks.While many purchases in the U.S. Army are not in use immediately, Rainey hopes that these Army robots will be more readily available. This means that we might see robots and humans working together on the battlefield sooner than expected.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

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