The Department of Defense has put out a call: design a pack of robots. A so-called Multi-Robot Pursuit System would be used to "search for and detect a non-cooperative human subject." Each robot has to weigh 100 kilograms or less, act autonomously (with a human squad leader), negotiate obstacles, and provide immediate feedback. The robots would report back to a human operator, and defer to that human when the robot AI determines that a "difficult decision" is required.
Marry technologies! As a retired Navy man I know that there are tecnologies that can and should be combind to enhanlce robotic vehicles. As an example we currently have IFF technology which I am sure has improved with smaller displacement, enhanced power, and reliability. Just this one area could be embedded on the robot with a transmitter and a receiver. The respective friendly force would have like components and there by identity as to friend or foe (IFF) could be readly established. This code was reset daily and this could be done so by various means today (remote hands on). Further more to secure the system a piliffer device installed would disallow the enemy access and there by protection afford our personnel. This same system could also be deployed for the anti personnel/ equipment intrusion munitions. This is just one of many areas where existing technology can overlap.
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