Ukraine receives humanoid robots for testing in combat conditions

According to Ukrinform, this was reported by Time

In February, two robots were sent to Ukraine—initially to conduct reconnaissance on the front lines. However, the Pentagon is also preparing these robots for potential use in combat scenarios, so the American company Foundation plans to deploy the “Phantom MK-1” to the front lines to refine the technology.

Company co-founder Mike Leblanc noted that what he saw in Ukraine only reinforces his belief in the value of humanoid soldiers.

Leblanc also said that the company is in “very close contact” with the Department of Homeland Security regarding the possibility of using these robots to patrol the southern U.S. border.

Leblanc argues that humanoid soldiers are a natural extension of existing autonomous systems, such as drones. Compared to the risk to human lives, along with all the negative political backlash and the risks of war crimes and stress-related trauma, humanoid soldiers offer a more sustainable alternative.

Robots do not suffer from fatigue or fear and can operate continuously in extreme conditions, being immune to radiation, chemicals, or biological agents. Moreover, Leblanc believes that giant armies of humanoid robots will eventually nullify an enemy’s tactical advantage in any conflict, much like nuclear deterrents.

“Humanoid soldiers could be invaluable for resupply and reconnaissance, especially in areas where drones cannot access, such as bunkers. With heat signatures similar to those of the human body, robots like Phantom can also throw the enemy off balance. “We need something that can interact with all these things,” Leblanc said.

He adds that the goal of the experiment is for the robot to be able to use “any weapon a human can hold.”

Currently, Phantom robots are undergoing testing at facilities from Atlanta to Singapore, and Foundation already has research contracts totaling USD 24 million with the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force.

As reported by Ukrinform, the Japanese company SoftBank Robotics announced on February 2 that its robot Pepper had been entered into the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s first mass-produced humanoid robot.

Photo: Foundation