America's New Battle Robot Is Here—But Can It Fight a Real War?

[00:00:00]Talking about ground combat [music] robots on the battlefield in Ukraine, ground-based drones have played a key role. Not only Russia and Ukraine, but also NATO allies have demonstrated [music] their capabilities in the technological competition of ground drones, aiming to shift frontline tasks from soldiers [music] to ground robots.

[00:00:18]And recently, the United States tested something terrifying, [music] a new ground combat robot. What would humanoid robots look like [music] in action? Keep your eyes on the story.

[00:00:32]The year 2024 became a brutal turning point in the history of modern warfare.

[00:00:37]On the blazing front lines, Ukraine's 13th National Guard Brigade carried out a maneuver the world had never seen before, an attack executed entirely by machines. The sky was filled with the hum of drones, while on the ground, teams of non-humanoid robots advanced in formation. [music] Their shapes did not resemble humans.

[00:00:57]They looked more like bulky four-wheeled motorcycles, moving slowly at just 4 miles per hour. Some carried explosives, ready to carry out deadly kamikaze missions, while others mounted machine gun turrets controlled remotely by operators watching [music] through flickering screens.

[00:01:13]However, the reality of the battlefield is a harsh teacher. Even though aerial reconnaissance had carefully mapped the smoothest possible routes, nature had its own plans. Ukraine's infamous mud and physical obstacles proved to be just as dangerous as Russian bullets. Amid the chaos, one robot came to a complete stop, stuck in an unexpected mound of earth.

[00:01:36]Another robot, after successfully firing its weapons, was later dragged away while attempting to return. Although the attack was technically considered a success, these mechanical failures in the mud sent a powerful message to the [music] rest of the world. The United States closely observed every detail of these failures. The Pentagon was not just watching, it was turning Ukraine into a live laboratory to test the limits of its technology. The tactical weaknesses and fragile mobility of wheeled robots in devastated terrain were studied extensively.

[00:02:09]Less than two years later, an evolution emerged. The Phantom MK1, a humanoid robot that looks like it came straight out of a science fiction film, now stands upright and is ready to take on the most dangerous roles on the battlefield. The US is now developing its own high-powered version for the most high-risk ground combat operations.

[00:02:28]However, there is a paradox in the design [music] of Phantom. The role of this humanoid combat robot may not be to serve as an unstoppable marksman.

[00:02:37]Instead, [music] this machine can be seen more as a bullet sponge rather than simply a killing machine. Why? Because the short-term value of humanoid [music] robots does not lie in their shooting skills, but in their ability to replace human [music] lives in situations where death is almost certain. Although today's humanoid robots may not yet [music] be as agile as protected infantry soldiers, these seemingly awkward machines are invaluable [music] assets if it means no more coffins are sent home.

[00:03:09]The decisive advantage of humanoid robots over unmanned ground vehicles seen in Ukraine lies in how they interact with the human world.

[00:03:17]Traditional UGV are excellent for logistics and fire support, but they often stop at doorways or steep stairs.

[00:03:24]Robots like the Phantom MK1 take control. Their ability to traverse urban terrain, climb ruined stairs, open locked doors, and move piles of debris is a crucial differentiator.

[00:03:35]Imagine a scenario where wheeled or tracked machines would get stuck among collapsed buildings. Humanoid robots, on the other hand, can operate in highly complex terrain ranging from dense forests [music] to urban areas filled with building rubble.

[00:03:49]Over time, their software and motor coordination will continue to improve.

[00:03:53]Of course, the US military is expected to experience failed experiments.

[00:03:58]However, it appears well prepared to accept those failures [music] by continuously training humanoid robots to master basic movements and repeat them precisely on command.

[00:04:09]At present, whether remotely controlled or operating autonomously, these robots may still appear slow and stiff in new environments. But, we might be surprised that one day humanoid robots will be able to move faster than we ever imagined.

[00:04:25]Standing nearly 6 ft tall and weighing 176 lb, the Phantom is being developed for what the US Army calls breaching operations. It's appearance is intimidating. A jet black steel body, [music] a glass visor-like face shield, and five-fingered hands covered in tactical gloves. It's narrow waist shows that this is purely a machine, not just a human in a robot costume.

[00:04:59]In ground combat, humanoid robots will not only face terrain and physical obstacles, but also narrow urban entry points and combat zones tightly monitored by enemy electronic surveillance. During infiltration operations, these robots will be the first to enter suspicious buildings.

[00:05:15]They will climb stairs, place explosives on doors, and then retreat mechanically before detonation.

[00:05:22]When the explosion brings the door down, the robot will be the first to pass through the breach to conduct exploration.

[00:05:28]>> [music] >> If there are traps or enemy fire waiting behind the door, it is the robot that will trigger them and absorb incoming bullets, [music] not human teammates.

[00:05:36]In this context, the robot does not need to be fast or as agile as an athlete.

[00:05:41][music] It only needs one thing, reach the objective and survive long enough to clear the path.

[00:05:46]As the first wave of armored assault forces, [music] the Phantom is equipped to handle standard weapons such as assault rifles, although the accuracy of remote operators in the chaos of [music] combat remains an open question.

[00:06:04]On the other hand, this robotics ecosystem does not stand [music] alone.

[00:06:09]The Bullfrog, an autonomous drone killing machine gun, was developed by Allen Control Systems >> [music] >> and an impressive engineering achievement.

[00:06:18]Six defense companies needed only two days to build a drone hunting vehicle.

[00:06:28]Oshkosh and ACS provide mobility and lethal firepower, while Havoc funds the autonomous [music] driving software.

[00:06:35]Leonardo DRS contributes a precise radar system, [music] and Picogrid connects the entire system so it can operate as one unified unit.

[00:06:50]All of these advanced systems are [music] managed through Anduril's battle management platform known as Lattice.

[00:06:55]This is a hunter-killer team of ground robots designed to autonomously navigate the most dangerous battlefields with the goal of shooting down swarms of unmanned aerial systems attempting [music] to target US forces. After years of heavy investment in linking various combat platforms, the US [music] Army is now campaigning to ensure that legacy and new technologies can exchange data [music] instantly in the heat of battle.

[00:07:26]So, >> [music] >> does the US intend to deploy tens of thousands of humanoid robots?

[00:07:33]Ukraine is reportedly aiming to build around 50,000 military robots this year.

[00:07:41]That's all for today's episode and [music] thanks for watching.

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