Introduction
”China boldly claims it has a plan to mass produce humanoid robots that can ‘reshape the world’ within two years”, a report issued by Business Insider claims. But the question is what are Humanoid robots? How they will “Reshape the world”? well, let’s take a deep dive into it.
In a basic sense, Humanoid robots are anthropomorphic robots that are designed to resemble and behave like humans. They typically have a bipedal gait, two arms, and a head with human-like features. Humanoid robots are powered by a variety of actuators, such as electric motors, pneumatic cylinders, or hydraulic pistons. They are also equipped with a variety of sensors, such as cameras, microphones, and force sensors.
Humanoid robots are becoming increasingly sophisticated and capable, and they are being developed for a wide range of applications, including the military perspective. The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology stressed the word “Reshape the World” and actually it’s true! Humanoid robots could revolutionize warfare, by increasing the lethality, survivability, mobility, and cost-effectiveness of armed forces.
In this blog, we will explore the potential benefits and ethical concerns of using humanoid robots for military purposes. We will also discuss the technical challenges of developing humanoid robots for military use, and we will examine the potential impact of humanoid robots on the future of warfare.
Some Real-life Case Studies on Humanoid Robots
Here is an example of TALOS. Tactical Autonomous Logistics Operations System (TALOS) is a humanoid robot being developed by the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL). TALOS is designed to perform a variety of tasks in support of military operations, including:
- Reconnaissance: TALOS is equipped with sensors that allow it to gather intelligence on enemy forces and terrain.
- Explosive ordnance disposal (EOD): TALOS used to disarm and dispose of explosives without putting human soldiers at risk.
TALOS is still under development, but it has already been tested in a number of military exercises. In one exercise, TALOS successfully transported supplies to a group of soldiers who were trapped behind enemy lines. In another exercise, TALOS was used to disarm a live explosive device.
TALOS has the potential to revolutionize military warfare by reducing the number of soldiers required to carry out dangerous tasks. It helps to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of military operations.
Overall, the development of TALOS is a significant step forward in the development of humanoid robots for military warfare. It is likely that TALOS will play an increasingly important role in military operations in the years to come.
Along with America, the Russian military is also developing a humanoid robot called FEDOR. FEDOR is designed to perform a variety of tasks, but it isn’t capable of fighting.
The South Korean military is also in the race to develop a humanoid robot called KHR-3. KHR-3 is designed to patrol border areas, thanks to its high night vision cameras and sensitive sensors which allows it to keep its dominance in border security of Korea.
Remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Daksh is another achievement of India in the field of artificial intelligence. The ROV is versatile equipment for improvised explosive device identification and handling. It can also be utilised to survey and monitor nuclear and chemical contamination levels. The ROV has stair-climbing capabilities and can operate continuously for 3 hours. The ROV can be controlled either by fibre optic communication over a 100m distance or can be controlled by wireless communication over a 500m line of sight.
These are just a few examples of the many humanoid robots that are being developed for military warfare. As technology continues to advance, it is likely that we will see even more powerful and advanced humanoid robots in the years to come.
Humanoid Robots: The Ultimate Soldiers
1) Increased Lethality
Let’s begin with the most important word associated with Humanoid robots and warfare which is “Lethality”. Humanoids are more dangerous than a human ever, not because it’s made up of titanium or something else, but because of their functionality, the way they react makes them Lethal. The things that make it more Lethal include -:
- Increased firepower: Humanoid robots are equipped with a variety of weapons, including machine guns, grenade launchers, and missiles. They are also equipped with multiple weapons systems, allowing them to engage targets with different types of fire simultaneously.
- Improved accuracy: Humanoid robots use advanced sensors and targeting systems to achieve greater accuracy than human soldiers. This is especially important for engaging targets at long-range or in low-light or zero-visibility conditions.
- Reduced reaction time: They react to targets much faster than human soldiers. This gives them a significant advantage in close-quarters combat or when engaging targets that are moving quickly.
2) Improved Survivability
There are several factors that make humanoid robots better in survivability terms when compared to humans. Yes, I agree that they are Lethal but that doesn’t mean that they are immortal! They must be strong enough to dodge the offences. Here are some of their survival capabilities -:
- Enhanced armour protection: Humanoid robots are armoured with Kevlar, ceramics, or other materials that can protect them from bullets, shrapnel, and other weapons. They can also be equipped with self-repairing systems that can automatically seal or repair damage to their armour.
- Enhanced situational awareness: They have a variety of sensors that allow them to detect threats from all directions, even in zero-visibility conditions. Artificial intelligence helps them to identify and assess threats more quickly and accurately than human soldiers.
- Reduced need for human intervention: Humanoid robots are programmed to perform dangerous tasks without human intervention. This helps to reduce the number of casualties suffered by human soldiers.
3) Enhance Mobility
The word mobility here can be read as accessibility. Humanoid robots can climb stairs, cross rubble and walk through rocky terrain. Wait! But these tasks can easily be performed by human soldiers as well with the help of Exoskeletons and other equipment, so how can they Enhance Mobility? The thing that makes the human soldiers and humanoids different from each other is also “Accessibility”. They can even climb over steep slopes which can be very exhaustive and difficult to climb for trained soldiers. Other
- They can carry heavy loads: Humanoid robots are equipped with linear actuators and hydraulic fluids that give them ten times more power and strength than exoskeletons which allows them to carry heavy loads. This can free up human soldiers to focus on other tasks, such as carrying weapons and ammunition.
- They can operate in hazardous environments: Because of the build material of Humanoid robots, they can operate in hazardous environments, such as deep holes, under deep tunnels and areas with chemical or biological weapons. This can reduce the risk of casualties among human soldiers.
- They can be used for reconnaissance: They are equipped with cameras and other sensors that allow them to perform reconnaissance missions. This can help to identify enemy positions and movements while reducing the risk of human soldiers being captured or killed.
4) Reduced Manpower Required
It is expected that humanoids can reduce the manpower requirements in warfare. Yes! I said “expected”, because making humanoid robots involve high costs and it can’t be afforded by developing countries. But still, it is said that their application in military warfare can reduce the manpower requirements if we keep the problem of high cost aside. Let’s grab some points that can explain our point -:
- Providing logistical support: Humanoid robots are capable of providing logistical support to militaries, such as transporting supplies and equipment. This can help in reducing the number of technical staff required to support military operations.
- Intelligence gathering: They are used to perform ISR missions, such as gathering intelligence and monitoring the battlefield. This can reduce the number of human soldiers required to perform these missions, which can be dangerous and time-consuming.
- Augmenting the capabilities of human soldiers: Humanoid robots can be used to provide additional firepower, carry heavy loads, and provide assistance with first aid and medical evacuation. This allows militaries to reduce the number of human soldiers required to achieve a given objective.
How Humanoid Robots Can Pose Ethical and Moral Dilemmas in War
Like every coin has it’s two sides, Humanoids also cause some serious threats to humans. They also have some disadvantages in terms of technology that we will discuss in detail.
1) Ethical and Moral Risks
I support the point that automation is necessary and important as we are moving towards our future where we all have the most advanced technology in our surrounding but the question is, whether this automation is good for humans especially when we talk about robots and humanoids in military warfare? Are our moral values in danger? The answer is subjective for different persons but the popular opinion goes like “Yes! We are at risk”.
Ultimately, humanoids are developed by humans and are based on computer systems and artificial intelligence and these things don’t have any emotions and critical thinking skills at the present nascent stage. We know the thing that computers can be hacked, so humanoids can also fall prey to these threats and manipulations easily. Even they can be targeted by enemies in warfare to cause heavy damage to the enemy country.
Along with this, the problem of emotion is a big challenge. Humanoids can’t judge whom to eliminate or whom to not. The use of lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS) is a controversial ethical issue. LAWS are weapons that can select and engage targets without human intervention. Some experts believe that it is unethical to allow machines to make decisions about whom to kill.
2) Technological challenges
In the general world, technology is a game changer and based on the technology only we can create further new technology. And here we will talk about “quantum technology”. For all these kinds of heavy and complex research and development work, quantum computers are used because only these computers have the capability to solve the big technological problems as they do their work in Qubits.
But here one more thing that I want to say is that quantum computers are quite expensive! Even their maintenance is high because they need to be kept at extremely cold temperature which is -495 degrees Fahrenheit or -273 degrees Celcius. And here the problem of high cost arises that I have discussed above.
Besides this, humanoids are less reliable because they are complex in nature, and they are highly prone to digital and mechanical failure because ultimately they are machines.
India’s Journey in Creating Robots: Challenges and Opportunities
India has made significant strides in the field of robotics in recent years, with several Indian companies developing cutting-edge robotic solutions. However, the country still faces several challenges in realizing its full potential in this field.
1) Challenges
- Limited funding and resources: Robotics research and development (R&D) is a capital-intensive endeavour, and India has historically lagged behind developed countries in terms of funding for R&D. This has limited the ability of Indian researchers and companies to develop advanced robotic technologies.
- Lack of skilled manpower: India has a shortage of skilled robotics professionals, including engineers, technicians, and programmers. This shortage is hampering the development and adoption of robotic solutions in the country.
- Fragmented ecosystem: The Indian robotics ecosystem is fragmented, with limited collaboration between academia, industry, and government agencies. This lack of collaboration is hindering the development of a cohesive national robotics strategy.
- Inadequate infrastructure: India lacks adequate infrastructure to support the development and testing of robotic technologies. This includes a shortage of robotics labs, testing facilities, and manufacturing capabilities.
2) Opportunities
- Growing demand for robotics: The demand for robotics is growing rapidly in India, driven by factors such as the rise of Industry 4.0, the need for automation, and the increasing adoption of robotics in healthcare and agriculture. This growing demand presents a significant opportunity for Indian companies to develop and market robotic solutions.
- Strong IT base: India has a strong IT base, with a large pool of IT professionals and a vibrant software industry. This IT expertise can be leveraged to develop the software and algorithms that are essential for advanced robotics.
- Government support: The Indian government has shown increasing support for the development of robotics in the country. This includes initiatives such as the National Robotics Mission and the establishment of the Indian Institute of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence.
- Entrepreneurial spirit: India has a strong entrepreneurial spirit, with a large number of startups working on innovative robotics solutions. This entrepreneurial ecosystem can be harnessed to drive the development of the Indian robotics industry.
As of now, India has developed some of its like “Vyom Mitra” developed by ISRO for its Gaganyaan mission which is expected to be launched by the end of 2025. Another humanoid developed by Kerela police is “Robo-Cop” developed with the aim of doing some basic Day-to-Day tasks not for any investigation or research.
So, India has already developed some of its humanoids but that is only for the purpose of customer service. But still, that technology can be used for military purposes as well! Ultimately we have a basic model structure and functioning of Humanoids, what we need to do is make some advanced level customisation and programming, and that can only be done through quantum computers. So for that, DRDO has collaborated with the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research(TIFR) for quantum research work. It is expected that India will showcase its own Humanoid for military warfare by 2035.
