Armed versions of the Talon robot can be remotely operated to assist (or replace) human troops in the field.
Expendable. It’s a word that is rapidly disappearing from use when describing soldiers in the field. Instead, that label has fallen on the shoulders of the newest unit in armed forces: the robot. Drones, remote operated vehicles, automated turrets…the mechanization of war is rapidly spreading, and changing the face of the front line. War 2.0, the next generation of armed conflict, is going to be filled with many different robotic systems. One such system, the Talon platform, has already demonstrated its varied effectiveness in the field. Like an average grunt, the Talon robots are called on to perform a wide range of duties, from surveillance to armed combat. While it’s not the only successful robot series, the Talon platform demonstrates how versatile and attractive robotic warfare will be to the military leaders of tomorrow. We have a string of Talon videos below, make sure to check them out.
Back in 2000, during the US military action in Bosnia, some of the first Talon robots were deployed to help remove enemy explosives. Today, there are hundreds of the Talon Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) robots in Iraq and Afghanistan. In less than a decade, the Talon EOD has gone from trial runs to a mission critical role in the US military strategy. This rapid shift in the war paradigm is mirrored in the Predator drones and CRAM turrets which have a major presence in the region. It appears that the modern military’s response to asymmetric warfare is to adopt a different kind of asymmetry: ‘our’ robots versus ‘their’ humans. That’s a scary, remarkable, and game-changing shift in war.
The Talon platform was developed originally by US company Foster-Miller, but has since been bought out and continued by the North American branch of the UK’s Qinetiq. Here’s one of their general promotional videos for the system:
As you can see in the video, Talon robots are essentially treaded mobile platforms with a centrally located manipulation arm. There are four major sizes of Talon: the smallest (15 to 50 lbs) Dragon Runner, the larger Talon (80 to 100 lbs), the weaponized SWORDS/MAARS (200 to 400 lb), and the small vehicle sized TAGS-CX (5,000-6,000 lbs). Each comes equipped with a variety of sensors, primarily 3-4 video cameras with night vision, zoom, and thermal imaging. A digital control unit (DCU) allows a soldier to remotely operate the robot using a joystick. For those military personnel who grew up playing video games, the DCU is a natural use of their arcade developed talents.
Taking Lives…
While the Talon EOD has seen the most use as it deals with IEDs and other roadside bombs, the Sword model has gotten a good deal of press. Why? Because it’s packing heat. The SWORDS (now being replaced by MAARS) and similar models are lightweight enough to be carried and deployed by soldiers, and can be armed with a variety of ordinance from rifles to anti-tank missiles. They are also fast enough to keep pace with running soldiers, and can be operated up to half a mile (~1km) away for hours at a time (up to 8.5 hours depending on model). The following videos demonstrate how the SWORDS Talon (and related TRAP Talon) could augment or replace front line human troops in combat.
…Saving Lives…
The lethality of these robots is indisputable, and some SWORDS Talon robots have already been tested in Iraq to varied success. Yet, as ubiquitous as armed robots may one day be, it’s important to remember that the majority of Talons used today serve to save lives by disarming explosives. The Talon EOD has been used to great effect in the US’ wars in the Middle East but it’s also become an important tool for some domestic law enforcement agencies. The first video that follows demonstrates the raw destructive power that the Talon faces in the place of a human soldier. The second video highlights how the robot has been adapted to domestic use.
…Changing Perceptions
These videos show the range of the Talon platform, but the trend towards robotic warfare is larger than any one system. Robotic machines are having an impact at every level of the US Armed forces, from grunts to generals. Soldiers are becoming comfortable and trusting of their robotic tools, using them for play as well as work. The US Army is also actively leveraging robots, and the allure of cutting-edge technology, in its recruitment strategy.
(Talon appears at the end of the commercial)
As we’ve discussed previously in our articles on War 2.0, humans are unlikely to be completely removed from warfare, but they are being slowly moved away from the front line combat. With a human operator and robotic platform the military gains the best of both worlds: reliable decision making, and an expendable/repairable unit. If you boiled down conventional military strategy it may eventually be summarized as “make sure more of them die than us.” The allure of robots in combat is that the ‘us’ can’t really die.
That being said, military strategy is rapidly shifting away from the conventional. As alarming as armed robots may be to some, the truth is that all forms of lethal combat are losing situations. War isn’t just becoming mechanized, it’s changing battlefields. The asymmetric conflicts of tomorrow may be solved by pinpoint operations to kill, arrest, or detain opposition leaders rather than pit soldiers against one another in the field.
But until that time arrives, conventional warfare will dominate armed conflicts around the world. Robots, expendable repairable and versatile, are the natural successors to humans in such battles. The Talon platform, and similar systems from competitors, will continue to see increased use as the US military (and others) seek to accomplish their goals with the fewest casualties possible.
Of course, finding non-military solutions to conflict could alleviate the need for any casualties, but I doubt there’s a robot in the world advanced enough to make that happen. …ASIMO?
[photo credit: Qinetiq North America]
[video credits: Qinetiq, Foster-Miller, Military Channel, History Channel, RobotoBlog, Sempermc88 (via YouTube), US Army]
Tags: Afghanistan, EOD, foster-miller, IED, Iraq, Qinetiq, SWORDS, Talon, war 2.0
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Wait, how are humans even possibly “likely to be removed from warfare”? What species are these robots shooting at?
Let’s not glamorize robot warfare. So far as we’ve seen, it slightly reduces the already low casualty rate for a technologically advanced side, and raises it for civilians and ill-equipped soldiers or conscripts on the other side.
@J. Bryson I agree with your assertion that warfare (robotic or otherwise) should not be glamorized. Yet, as I mentioned in the article, the entire purpose of robotic warfare (from the POV of the roboticized military) is a gross asymmetry in the loss of life.
Hopefully, as automated systems are adapted they will provide a means to localize loss of life to combatants and not civilians.
We’ve been promised smart bombs and smart missiles which will only hit the intended target. Current examples of such devices have failed to live up to expectations.
Robotic warfare, which has had the biggest impact on reconnaissance, may help us avoid killing bystanders. That alone, is a good reason to pursue their development.
Yes Aaron, but in our super complex world there is never a single reason which acts “alone. ” Thus the consequences are numerous and often unforeseen and therefore it is not a sound argument to claim that a singe reason is “alone” enough to justify the future development in military robotics.
In addition, the tendency is that we are going to have less and less control over the kill-bots which are going to take more and more autonomous decisions about who is to live and who is to die. Eventually, the process will probably end up completely automated and, at that point, machine will be the judge of human life and death.
war itself can only be solved sociologically, that is what experience and science indicate.
These Talon EOD Robots are a really cool technology that is keeping our troops safe in Afghanistan and Iraq. The EOD Troops and Bots are essential in keeping our military ground operations secure for all troops. Thanks for the cool videos!
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