Fighting humanoids in action. Two test their skills in Ukraine

Phantom MK-1 is the first humanoid robot in the world, which is specially developed for defense and combat use. It is so clear that while many other robotics companies pledge not to use their creations in combat, this one is taking a different route.

In fact, as part of more detailed testing, it has already agreed contracts with the US Army, Navy and Air Force worth several tens of millions of dollars, which effectively made it an approved military supplier.

The plan includes, for example, test projects in which the Phantoms will “practice” placing explosives on doors while penetrating various objects, the company states on its website.

The humanoid robots sent to Ukraine were originally planned as front-line reconnaissance support. But the company does not hide the fact that it is also preparing robots for potential deployment in various combat scenarios.

“We think there is a moral challenge to send these robots to war instead of real soldiers,” Mike LeBlanc, a Marine Corps veteran and co-founder of Foundation Future Industries, told Time. According to him, the goal is for this robot to control “any weapon that a human can control”.

LeBlanc also said the company is in “very close contact” with the Department of Homeland Security regarding the possible deployment of robots as patrols along the southern US border.

However, the full deployment of robots is hampered by a number of shortcomings that need to be resolved. In addition to the cost of development, robots are also quite heavy, they also need to be recharged regularly. The humanoid is also powered by 20 motors, each of which has its own power supply and can thus break down independently.

But experts also warn of the danger if a humanoid soldier falls into the hands of the enemy. There are already risks with captured drones, which are a source of sensitive data. Similarly, experts warn that robots could be manipulated by enemies and used against the manufacturer or its army.

The ability of humanoids to correctly assess every situation that arose also came to the fore. “When a child runs to them in a dangerous zone with scissors in hand, can they evaluate it correctly? These machines are not moral beings, they will never understand the ethical consequences of their actions,” added associate professor Prahlad Vadakkepat from the National University of Singapore.