A military robot dog may be the best thing for soldiers on the battlefield. There are several options. These include the BigDog, Spot and Vision 60. Onyx Industries' NAUT may be another option. The ABMS exercise involved military and industry collaborations and was held in 30 locations all over the country.
Spot
Spot can be used in war, even though it is a military robotic dog. One, it is not secure and could cause injury. Boston Dynamics, the company behind Spot, has stated that its policies are against weaponizing the dog. Spot is also being considered for bans by the company to be used as an weapon by military customers.
DARPA funded a project that developed a robotic dog to transport military equipment. BigDog was born in 2003. In 2008, Boston Dynamics released the first video of Spot in action.
BigDog
Boston Dynamics, with DARPA funding, developed the military robotic dog BigDog. It was 3 feet long and 2.5 ft tall. BigDog is powered by a single-cylinder go-kart engine and can carry 340 pounds. It was originally meant to carry soldiers. Due to engine noise, however, the project was abandoned.
BigDog can be operated by a person. The robot communicates with the human control unit via IP radios. The control unit can be mounted in one vest. It contains a radio, 900Mhz antenna, steering controller interface, and a head mounted display unit. This allows BigDog's human operator to operate it and give operational data. Robots can also follow human commands. They detect and follow objects.
Vision 60
A military robot dog can now be purchased from a robotics company. Ghost Robotics Vision60 models have advanced video capabilities. They also include 14 sensors to enable autonomous missions. They can run up to three hours on a single charge. The robots are also equipped with a remotely-operated gun. These capabilities enable the dogs to conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions in real-time.
Ghost Robotics, an innovative startup in Philadelphia that specializes with legged robots and military robot dogs, is creating the Vision 60. It has been used in U.S. military service before, assisting with a security cordon at the Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. Aside from patrolling the perimeter of a base, the robotic dog can accompany troops in the field.
Onyx Industries' NAUT
Onyx Industries showed its new military robot dog at a Special Operations Forces Industry Conference in Tampa. The NAUT can be used for military operations, including raids or deep beneath enemy lines. It also has the ability to detect mines and other hazards.
The NAUT is lightweight and weighs in at just 0.9kg with no battery. Its exterior is made of 7075-grade aluminum. The system is equipped with a secure wireless connection, and can withstand any shocks. It has a range up to 2.4 km, and an autonomous management system. It works with any IP67-rated platform.