The idea has faced sharp criticism, particularly from roboticists.
The US Army is considering equipping its four-legged unmanned ground vehicles (Q-UGVs) Vision 60 with combat weapons, as reported by Sarbaz.kz citing Military.com.
It is expected that installing the Sig Sauer XM5 NGSW rifle on robot dogs will enhance their potential and ability to respond to threats on the frontline.
This is not the first time the army has experimented with arming its Q-UGVs. In the past, it has already mounted the M4A1 carbine on Ghost Robotics technology.
"The uniqueness of the robot dog lies in its ability to overcome various types of terrain where wheeled vehicles may not pass," said Bhavandjot Singh, a representative of the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM).
Despite this step, DEVCOM representative Tim Rider explained that conducting the experiment does not necessarily mean that armed robot dogs will be deployed for combat missions.
The prospect of integrating lethal weapons into autonomous systems has faced sharp criticism, particularly from roboticists.
Source: Endgadget
Several robotics companies have called on the world's armed forces to refrain from using their technologies as weapons to avoid jeopardizing the safety of civilian populations.
"We believe that installing weapons on robots widely available to the public increases the risk of harm and raises serious ethical concerns," noted the signatory parties.
