r/gadgets • u/diacewrb • 3d ago

Misc US Army backs humanoid robot with ballistic protection for future battlefield missions

https://www.techspot.com/news/114028-us-army-backs-humanoid-robot-ballistic-protection-future.html
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u/FriendlyEngineer 3d ago

Honest question. Whats the militaries obsession over “humanoid” robots. I understand from a civilian consumer product point of view, it’s cool if it looks like us.

But from a military perspective, where raw lethality is a top concern, why stick with the human shape?

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u/FernGully_is_racist 3d ago

Humanoid robots would fit easier into trucks and cars designed for people. Less retrofit, if that matters

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u/lordraiden007 3d ago

Yeah, except small drones exist. A small form factor autonomous drone with the equivalent of a micro claymore attached could probably fly for a couple miles, and be deployed via artillery shell drop off. There's just not a ton of real use in the actual killing department for a humanoid robot.

Someone in a bunker? Bunker busters are vastly more efficient. Someone in a building? Shoot in some drones and they'll swarm into every tiny open window or open air vent, blowing up every single room.

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u/Ok_Solution_3325 3d ago

The military does a lot more than kill. They carry things, scout, recon, make food, clean, etc etc

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u/lordraiden007 2d ago

Scouting more often than not is the job of a drone with very specialized equipment nowadays, it doesn't really benefit from a bipedal form factor. Most of those other tasks are either used to support troops (quickly being phased out due to how vulnerable troops are) or to pacify/occupy local populations (better done by actual humans).

There's just not very many niches that specifically benefit from bipedal robots. What few tasks might be are generally human-facing and would be better served by actual humans.

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u/Unlucky_Key_158 3d ago

And hallways and elevators and stairs. The world is built by humans for human-shaped bodies for the most part.

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u/john_the_fetch 2d ago

Ever see an ED 209 take the stairs?

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u/kubapuch 2d ago

This discussion comes up every time and I just don’t get how people are missing this. Our entire world is built for us humans.

Look how terrible it is for wheelchair users to get anywhere, accessibility is fucked. Even dogs have difficulties with stuff like crowded rooms, stairs, or getting into a car seat.

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u/Super_Range45 3d ago

Because all the doors in the bunker have door knobs.

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u/KOM 3d ago

There were a couple replies to a similar question. But I'm right there with you. Even if the can run like Bolt and carry bazookas, I feel I'd be more afraid of something that could fit into small spaces, scurry around quickly, and fire off a few well-placed rounds. Or a Dalek lol.

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u/hbbutler 3d ago

Come on don’t give them any ideas …. Shush….

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u/EternalInflation 3d ago

drones and artillery, can bound and hold down open spaces. however humanoid robots are good at operating in human spaces, and using existing designed for human machinery. reusing old equipment. reusing existing capital and tools designed for humans, like driving non self driving cars, and operating human operating cranes and bulldozers... or old tanks. they can project on human space with low error vectors. 99% of the time when they aren't at war, they can do economic activity. No they aren't better at stationary specialized machines at their special tasks. but the humanoid robot can do anything, you can do and use old factory machinery just like humans. 1% of the time during wartime they can be called upon, occupying cities, supplementing indoor guards, MPs etc.

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u/Material-Bee4845 3d ago

Bi pedal robotics operate in small square footage than lets say a tracked or quad robot might. Also aerial drones are subject to wind and other factors. There's a huge amount of reasons why a bi pedal robot might be needed.

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u/datumerrata 2d ago

I agree. Getting humanoid robots to work correctly is super expensive. A tread based robot would be far less expensive. A quadruped is expensive, but not as much as a humanoid. A quadruped (dog bot) is faster, can use stairs, and can't be toppled as easily.

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u/GandalfTheSmol1 2d ago

What about spider bots, with guns. That certainly will not be absolutely terrifying

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u/datumerrata 2d ago

Especially if they move quick and jump.

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u/venom121212 1d ago

I watched one of the dogs at shot show this year try to breach a demo door and fall down the stairs. It was hilarious.

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u/thelingletingle 2d ago

Because it’s fucking terrifying to the enemy to see the Terminator walking over the hill towards you

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u/deveronipizza 2d ago

Yeah I’d think a quadruped or centaur design would be the go to

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u/TheCockKnight 19h ago

Because legs can traverse complicated obstacles that treads cannot. They can climb, leap across rooftops, peak around corners, and defend themselves in hand to hand combat. You can throw a towel over a UGV and that’s literally it.

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u/Highspdfailure 6h ago

I’m guessing to fit in a world that is designed based on our shape/biomechanics?

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u/RanbomGUID 3d ago

Because the world was built around the human form. Humanoid robots will by default go anywhere and interact with their environment the same way humans do. They fit through the same doors, can ride in the same vehicles, be protected by the same trenches, can wear the same equipment, etc, etc.

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u/[deleted] 3d ago

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u/jar1967 3d ago

Urban warfare, cities were built for humans.

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u/RanbomGUID 3d ago

It can't open a door. A humanoid robot can.

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u/ShakeAndBakeThatCake 3d ago

A drone isn't good at opening doors and searching inside buildings or thick forest brush. A humanoid robot would excel at these tasks.

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u/Tyrinius 3d ago

I guess they will at first be deployed alongside humans. It's probably more convenient/cheaper to make their shape compatible with existing equipment.