The US Army has made steps to create a "Phantom Menace" Army, which is an army that isn’t manned human beings. Robots are being developed that can perform tasks that humans cannot. These systems can work in conjunction with other troops on the battlefield to protect the soldiers from harm and keep them out of the way.
Future battlefields will also be able to benefit from the use of robotic systems as force multipliers. They can place sensors in new positions, and present commanders new data. They can also clear out landmines in war-torn countries. However, there are still many things to do before they are ready for the Army.
The Army currently has three main programs to test military robotics. One program is the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicles (OMFV), which will replace the Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle. Another is the Tracked Robot 10-Ton, or TRX. It's based on technology developed through the Small Multipurpose Equipment Transport program.
The two-armed robot could also be considered. This would allow the robot to fire a non-lethal rubber bullet or a powerful "elephant killer" bullet.
Artificial intelligence is a promising project. The robot can view video streams and interact with humans to learn how to complete a task. The robot might then be capable of performing the same task.
Robotics are becoming more realistic but it's important that humans remain the primary combat force. AI-based bots are still learning tactics. Human arms only have seven degrees of freedom.
The Army established an artificial intelligence system to train robots. To train robots to do the same tasks as humans, machine learning algorithms are used. The AI can only do this if there are enough training data. The system may rely on human demonstrations to make up the difference if it doesn't have enough training data.
Another important element of artificial intelligence systems is their ability to react to changes in their environment. Robots can use a variety sensor types to adapt to changing conditions, including heat and chemical sensors. For example, if a chemical contaminant or heat source is detected, the robot will be able to adjust its own behavior to avoid a collision.
To ensure robots can operate safely, the Army is using other systems in addition to artificial Intelligence. These systems will include the standard operations order, or SOA. This will give humans a set guideline to follow when making decisions. The SOA will allow humans to understand the information they receive and help them define it. When a human is trying to find a particular object, they can say "Turn left" and "Turnright".
The robots are not only able to learn how to perform certain tasks but also trained to obey commands. The system can determine whether a robot is near or far from a target when it attempts to avoid collisions.