One of the most famous and long-standing features of war is that it has always been developed with technology, and some of the newest gadgets on the battlefield are eccentric dogs, which are now robotic. These mechanics have already gone beyond just science fiction and are considered co-workers rather than just technical staff. They can be found not only in the training of different armies but also on the battlefield or even at the stage of idea formation for possible future combat operations. Hence, the whole notion of how modern armies function is subject to change.
For a very long time, real dogs have always been the trusty sidekicks of soldiers during battles. They have played very active roles in wars, for instance, by detecting bombs, rescuing people, and accompanying fighters during the stressful and dangerous situations. They have been nothing less than saviors by combining their sharp instincts and loyalty to humans.
Nevertheless, even the strongest and fittest amongst them would still be subjected to limitation. Difficult, harsh environmental conditions combined with toxic, hazardous substances or land full of hidden bombs or with debris can make them go beyond their limits. On the other hand, robotic dogs have no such kind of limitations as they do not get tired or injured and are thus the perfect partners for long and dangerous missions.
I think their best use is for carrying the supplies they are going to use. The soldiers usually have to wear backpacks that can weigh over 60 pounds, even before they actually enter a mission. Robots can go where cars cannot and bring vehicles (or soldiers) heavy bullets, water, or first aid supplies so that they can use their energy for the mission.
When it comes to scouting, as well, these robots do it brilliantly. For example, with the help of a camera, a thermal imager, and live communication links, they can go ahead of a group of soldiers, check the buildings, find the safest way, or unearth traps—hereby leaving soldiers out of immediate danger.
They have already proven to be quite effective in tasks such as the passing of liberated zones via mines and the supplying of hard-to-reach places with the guidance of special tactics.
The weaponization application may still be the most contentious one. Some military experiments have fused robotic dogs with firearms that are controlled from a distance; thus, the human part would be responsible for making the decisions regarding what to target, while the robot would perform the movement function.
The early stage experiments give us reason to believe that they might be advantageous in limited spaces such as tunnels and dangerous city areas, although the traditional forces would be highly exposed there. The Vision 60 has been one of the types of platforms that have demonstrated excellent performance and reliability during the times they have been put to the test.
Such technology as artificial intelligence pushes its capabilities even further. They are continuously working on this; for instance, they are working on systems that can make robotic dogs find threats, come up with countermeasures for drones, and even coordinate with other groups. The final decision rests with huma, but with more autonomy, the issue of who is accountable arises. Who is accountable if a robot causes a fatal error?
Military officials have been quite clear that such technology aims to aid human decision-making, rather than replace it. However, many people are still worried about the consequences: how to make sure that non-combatants are safe, that the regulations of war are followed, and that the robots are allowed just the right amount of freedom with regard to decision-making. Without any universal guidelines that are already in place, the argument on who is in control and who should be held responsible has just gotten off to a start.
Hard to say what the future holds, but we can be pretty sure that these kinds of dogs will carry on playing significant roles. Apart from that, the next generation of these dogs may not only be used for simple tasks like moving supplies and scouting. They will also be able to do everything as a group while communicating, changing the tactics on the spot, and making human soldiers more efficient instead of substituting them fully.
The sci-fi stage of robotic dogs is way behind us now. They have already started to change the way armies do logistics, intelligence gathering, and risk management—prompting a major rethink of how humans and machines work together on the battleground. Up until then, these robots will no longer be treated as novelties but instead the norm, and not only that, but also they will be one of the most important modern warfare tools.