Over the last year, Tyndall Air Force Base and the U.S. Air Force 325th Security Forces Squadron have been working with Ghost Robotics to develop a system to enhance security and safety for the base population.
Tyndall AFB will be one of the first U.S. Air Force bases to implement semi-autonomous robot dogs into their patrolling regiment.
These “computerised canines” demonstrated their abilities Nov. 10 at an event attended by Maj. Gen. Tom Wilcox, Air Force Installation and Mission Support Centre commander, and leadership from the 325th Fighter Wing and the Tyndall AFB Program Management Office.
“We are very excited,” said Maj. Jordan Criss, 325th Security Forces Squadron commander.
“We are the first unit within the Department of Defense to use this technology for enhanced security patrolling operations.”
While these robots walk on all fours and resemble a dog, they are not intended to replace the military working dogs. Instead, they will aid in patrolling operations and, in doing so, allow Tyndall AFB’s defenders to focus their efforts on security actions that require a physical presence.
“These robot dogs will be used as a force multiplier for enhanced situational awareness by patrolling areas that aren’t desirable for human beings and vehicles”, Criss said.
I’ve seen it all now….
Nothing beats the real thing though.
Are you sure you’ve seen it all 😉
https://www.youtube.com/user/BostonDynamics/videos
Indeed like it or not it will be when not if they will take over the majority of such work. Specialist key abilities of dogs aren’t yet going to be threatened and it’s always good to employ both to cover each other’s strengths and weaknesses to enhance the overall defensive posture, but in the end costs involved will by decade end play the biggest role in as and when this sort of technology becomes dominant as I think by then in overall terms its capabilities will be superior in most roles and provide whole new levels of capability too. Most… Read more »
Agreed. Robot dogs are well suited to routine patrolling and surveillance across moderate ground conditions, flat military bases being a good example. Dogs are much better for the non-routine activity, especially in buildings and in rough ground conditions.
And a Dogs nose? As Spy says key abilities!
I’m standing up for nature here!
I’m laughing as I hesitate to click that link! No doubt I’m talking cobblers and have not seen it all….! Lets see.
Hmmm, having looked are we ( humans, incase PK does a wobbly ) really of sound mind developing this stuff when mixed with talk of artificial intelligence and autonomy? Terminator coming to life.
I hope they keep a back door switch off.
Indeed. Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking have both warned about AI … independent of its use in robots. The Parkour Atlas robot is perhaps the most unsettling with its oh so human movements.
No mate, as I prefer the biting version. As did my mate, not!!!!! As a quick anecdote from Afghan no names no pack drills, night time, MERT coming in, so me and my Plt Sgt went on top of the compound wall to put some IR cylumes up, as he was coming in low and fast. Volumes put up at various locations along the compound wall, so we decided to lower ourselves off the wall, he was a little further up than me. However he unfortunately lowered himself into the new little compound we had made for the “Patrol dog”… Read more »
Picture the scene, waiting at a FOB for an air taxi. Get talking to a guy with an Alsatian type of dog, quietly throwing a ball around. Asked him if the dog was a drugs sniffer or a patrol dog? He said no, more like a springer spaniel. Eh? He jumps in to rooms and flushes people out! He’s usually being dragged out, as he’s a bugger to let go of their ankles. Look at dog in nervous new light and respect…..
What? It’s not April 1st is it. Next TD article will be Santa has robot reindeer.
Have they got teeth? Ability to psychologically intimidate? situational awareness dogs ears, nose general curiosity?A trained dog is very intelligent & extremely useful asset.
If just for general patrolling not sure any advantage over tracked/wheeled UGVs or using UAVs? Seems a bit gimmicky to me US forces definitely have too much money! Can they not give it to UK forces before spending on this kind of endeavour!
Do they like belly rubs or a nice bone? Not a real dog then.