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| The United States uses robots to patrol its borders |
This week, the US Department of Homeland Security released new details about experiments with four-legged robots on the southern border. The machines will be tested at various locations with an emphasis on monitoring.
Although the Department of Homeland Security was not fully involved in the release schedule. But she said the experiment was a success and that the machine was going on.
And the southern border can be a bad place for both humans and monsters, which is what makes the machines there so special. The program focuses on land-controlled robotic vehicles.
The four-legged robot was manufactured by Boston Dynamics competitor Ghost Robotics. The most popular Ghost Vision model is 76 cm tall and weighs 32 kg. It can travel more than 12 kilometers in 3 hours on a single charge.
The robot can navigate independently or be controlled manually. It can also be fitted with a range of payloads including thermal and night vision cameras.
Ghost Robotics has shown prototypes equipped with weapons in the past. However, there is no indication that the Department of Homeland Security is testing such payloads.
The Department of Homeland Security explained how it is testing potential actions of robots at the border. These machines have been tested for external protection.
These machines automatically patrol pre-set GPS tracking points while carrying cameras and sensors.
They were also trained to inspect, move and under rail cars in assembly yards. Training includes reconnaissance construction, including simulated encounters with potentially hostile personnel.
Four-legged robots are tested as independent guardians
The main advantage of these four-legged robots is that they can navigate any environment in which a human can navigate. With stairs, steep hills and rocky terrain. Unlike tracked or wheeled machines.
But despite their complexity, these machines also have significant limitations. Field experience revealed a number of potential issues, including limited battery life and erratic behaviour.
When the French Army tested Boston Dynamics' Spot Robot during a military exercise, soldiers complained that the battery was running out too quickly.
While US police trial reports complained of SPOT's unreliable and inconsistent performance, the machines sometimes stopped working for no apparent reason.
The Department of Homeland Security compares the use of robots at the border to drones to supplement human labor.
As attempts to build a physical wall across the US border falter, the government has turned to technological solutions. Robots seem to be an obvious addition to the package.