Source: National Defense Magazine
Roxana Tiron
Sep 18 2002

Army scientists and researchers predict that ground battlefield robots will play a prominent role in the future force, but today’s technology still is not capable of delivering some essential features, such as robots that can navigate autonomously and communicate effectively with operators.

A key test for the U.S. Army’s robotics program will be the Future Combat System, which was conceived as a network of manned and unmanned platforms that will replace existing tanks and fighting vehicles.

In the FCS, the unmanned vehicles are supposed to operate in forward areas, into enemy terrain. However, robotic systems currently lack the “robustness and flexibility” required to take on this role, according to the Defense Department’s 2002 Joint Robotics Program Master Plan.

A Pentagon official who is familiar with the robotics program said that semi-autonomous and autonomous mobility are still not feasible, but that “serious progress” could be achieved in about five years. “It is a lot closer than we thought it would be,” he said. “Responsive robotic dogs exist already.” [click on the title to link to the article]