Russia is creating a system for centralized control of groups of combat robots, a source at the Central Research Institute of Robotics and Technical Cybernetics (RTK) in St. Petersburg said on Monday.
This refers to various robotic platforms for combat operations, capable, inter alia, of carrying various types of weapons, as well as for inspection activities, in particular, monitoring the level of radiation pollution.
As he explained, it is necessary to create a single control point so as not to use a separate remote control to control each robot. Russian engineers are also improving the navigation system, "so that it is not just a stupid radio-controlled robot, but has a certain behavior algorithm, independence." But here we are not talking about artificial intelligence, which, according to the specialist, “cannot be created”, but about the algorithm that helps the operator to control the device, he stressed.
Particular attention is paid to the development of small-sized intelligence robots. Such a robot could, for example, be thrown through the window of a house seized by terrorists to inspect everything, the source said. We also need robots that could walk in front of the special forces and inform the commander about the situation in the combat area.
“There are already robots for detecting ionizing radiation,” said the specialist. "Such a robot can detect a radiation source, drive up to it, pick it up with manipulators and put it in a special container."
In general, Russia is still at the very beginning of a cycle of such works, although to date, dozens of types of robotic weapons have been developed. These include unmanned aerial vehicles - underwater and surface, unmanned military vehicles and robots for defusing mines.
The developed industrial countries are constantly increasing investments in the development of robotic weapons. However, there are no exact statistics, the numbers are classified. In particular, in the United States, the military is actively developing so-called drones, remotely controlled by operators and opening fire not only with human permission. For example, the Raytheon Phalanx artillery complex, deployed in the navies of 25 countries, including the United States, is capable of independently, in an autonomous mode, detecting, escorting and destroying missiles flying towards the ship that have overcome all other lines of interception.
The Western press writes that in 20-30 years in the armies of many countries of the world, people with weapons will be replaced by fully autonomous armed robots capable of making decisions themselves. Moreover, such plans frighten human rights defenders from the authoritative organization Human Rights Watch. They demand that killer robots be banned before they can be used.
Promotional video: