Tele-operated robots, whose every move is controlled from a distance by a trained soldier or Marine, are becoming familiar sights in today’s battlefields. More than 12,000 robotic systems are deployed in Iraq alone.
Unmanned ground vehicles can be used to examine and remove improvised explosive devices and other dangerous ordnance. These rugged UGVs can take the brunt of an explosion and still be quickly repaired and redeployed without risk to our men and women in uniform.
Today, instead of using the robot to monitor a situation or to deal only with an inanimate object, a soldier can also use the UGV to respond to any situation at hand with the appropriate level of force. Armed, tele-operated UGVs have debuted with armed forces in Iraq, with more on the way. These robots combine the observational capabilities of their predecessors — multiple cameras and sensors — with the ability to respond to threats. The latest iterations of armed UGVs even allow an escalation of force, providing the options to respond with a loudspeaker, an eye-safe dazzler or beanbags. And, if the situation warrants, that same UGV gives the soldier more lethal response options, such as a grenade launcher or a machine gun.
The biggest obstacle to the proliferation of UGVs in combat is a cultural one. Some decision-makers in the military world do not seem to be able to get past a negative, knee-jerk reaction when presented with an armed, tele-operated unmanned vehicle. Some are unable to see beyond sci-fi fantasy to the cold, hard realities of combat today.
It is an irrefutable fact that armed UGVs give soldiers and Marines the protection of stand-off distance. More importantly, the armed UGV buys them precious time to evaluate and respond to a potentially dangerous situation.
Armed UGVs do not change the rules of engagement. The same parameters still exist for appropriate response and for the use of deadly force. What these newest UGVs accomplish is the addition of precious moments in the high-stress, split-second decision-making of soldiers and Marines in harm’s way. For example, an Army sentry approached by an unknown person can only let that person get so close before a life-or-death decision must be made. But, when that sentry is actually a UGV controlled by the soldier, who is safely a kilometer away, there is more time to decide when and how to respond. The loudspeaker, dazzler and beanbags offer less lethal options that can actually help to protect that soldier. If the approaching person turns out to be hostile, only the robot is in danger.
Throughout the history of conflict there have been several instances when a technology was introduced to the battlefield that literally changed the face of warfare. Armed UGVs fall into that category.
The practical, in-theater application of armed UGVs presents combat troops with a wide range of options that can suit any ground mission. Here are just a few examples of how a versatile UGV can work on the battlefield of today:
Observation: A small, well-camouflaged robot allows careful monitoring with no concerns that this sentry will fall asleep, need supplies or give away his position.
Diversion: A robot can enter the hostile environment from one direction, using the loudspeaker to draw the enemy’s attention while forces enter from another.
Anti-sniper: An armed UGV, low to the ground and difficult to see in the grass or in other cover, allows approach, verification and elimination of a suspected threat.
Breaching: UGVs in the “stack” can precede the rest of the unit to breach a doorway or enter a building first. Sixty percent of casualties stem from initial contact. Let the UGV enter first.
Ambush: UGVs are ideal for lying in wait. Again, there are no concerns about giving away the position with unnecessary movement.
Sector reconnaissance: A robot can move out to gather intelligence via pan/tilt/zoom cameras and a variety of sensors, reporting back to the soldier and vastly improving the situational awareness of the entire unit.
The UGV is primed and ready to serve on a much broader scale. More than anyone else in the equation, top brass has the responsibility to seek out information and live demonstrations of the armed UGVs available to today’s military.
Knowledge is power, and the decision to ignore robotic advancements due to pre-conceived notions is a dangerous position indeed. Simply put, the UGV provides an extension of the eyes, ears and intellect of the war fighter. The United States faces formidable enemies on multiple fronts, and the protection offered by the armed UGV can no longer be denied. It is up to government and industry to overcome the generational inability to see the UGV for what it really is and deliver this life-saving technology to troops in the field.
John M. Riggs is a retired U.S. Army general. He currently works as a defense industry consultant with QinetiQ North America. The company’s Foster-Miller subsidiary supplies combat robots to the U.S. military.