To create an artificial assistant that will perform challenging and dangerous tasks is a long-standing dream of mankind. It was reflected in myths and legends of many peoples. And of course efforts were taken to find military applications of automatic mechanisms that were translated into an idea of combat robots fighting instead of people or assisting them in this mission.
Read below about the history of robotics and modern robots ‘in uniform’.
Robots go on the warpath
Interest in military applications of maximally-automated devices has existed long ago. For example, Leonardo da Vinci invented a mechanical knight in the 15th century and Nikola Tesla offered a remote-controlled mini submarine during World War I.
Remote-controlled tank experiments were conducted in the USSR in the early1930s. These light vehicles were used for minefield reconnaissance, barbed wire breaching, etc. The T-26 light remote-controlled tanks were used in the Winter War, however, these developments were terminated when the the Great Patriotic War (World War II) began.
The T-26 near Sevastopol. Photo: Museum Preserve of Heroic Defence of Sevastopol
Successful development of unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned surface vehicles and unmanned ground vehicles was carried out during postwar years. Work on ground systems is currently conducted in several areas at a time. First, these are engineer vehicles used, for example, for landmine removal. Second, these are transport vehicles that are used for cargo delivery and are able to evacuate wounded soldiers. And, third, these are actually the combat robots themselves.
Rostec’s combat robots
Rostec has shown a robotic version of the BMP-3 with the Sinitsa combat module. The weapons used on the vehicle include the 30mm 2А72 autocannon, 7.62mm PKTM machine gun and 100mm 2А70 gun which can be also used to launch anti-tank guided missiles. The fundamental difference between the Sinitsa and the previous modules is the state-of-the-art panoramic sight with imaging infrared channel to enable the 360-degree day and night view.
Due to the automated loading mechanism, digital fire control system and control motor-drive, the new vehicle may be operated using remote control.
Another cutting-edge solution is the Prometey hardware and software package that can robotize any armored vehicles and operate them using remote control. Moreover, the standard control stations are retained, i.e. the crew can take control over the vehicle, if required.
According to Bekhan Ozdoev, Director of Rostec’s Weapons Cluster, the Prometey is advancing towards higher independence. The fighting vehicle will be able to move to the target position unattended, define the best route in standalone mode, bypass obstacles, and process data promptly using computer vision.
New robotic solutions
In June this year, Rostec disclosed the details of several new robots that may be used in the interest of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation. The Depesha multifunctional remote-controlled platform is a single-operator vehicle that can deliver food, ammunition and fuel to the front line, and evacuate wounded soldiers in a quick and stealthy manner. Various configurations are available allowing the platform to engage the enemy personnel, fortifications and strongpoints.
The Depesha
In addition to modernization of military equipment and creation of new robots from scratch, Rostec is also focused on robotization of purely civilian products. Thus, Kovrov Electromechanical Plant has created the MGR4 Shmel demining robot on the basis of a popular mini loader family. The vehicle is already used for remote demining of new territories.
MGR4 Shmel. Photo: Igor Rodin
Rostec’s solutions are also used for robotization of other existing products to achieve considerable cost saving and, what is more, such devices will keep combatants alive.
