Robotics has evolved over the past few decades through a combination of engineering, science, and technology breakthroughs, and today, robots can perform specific tasks with greater efficiency and accuracy than humans. In areas such as surgery or hazardous area remediation, they are crucial tools for enhancing human performance and mitigating risk to humans when adverse circumstances arise.
Robotics in Defense Applications
Robotics has become a transformative tool for defense applications, enhancing accuracy and precision, lowering soldiers’ risk, and being used in surveillance, logistics, and supply delivery. Additionally, robots have become integral to military teams’ search and rescue missions to locate missing or captured personnel. There are various types of robots, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), ground-based robots, underwater naval robots, and robotic exoskeletons.

Types of Military Robots and Drones
UAVs
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can operate autonomously and fly for long periods without crew or passengers. The USA and Britain first deployed UAVs during World War I, and several unmanned devices were being used by the end of WWII. UAVs were first used for reconnaissance during the Vietnam War. Along with gathering intelligence, drones can also serve as decoys in combat, launch missiles, and conduct mapping operations.
UGVs
Like UAVs, Uncrewed Ground Vehicles are designed to keep military personnel safe while performing dangerous tasks on land. These robots can perform tasks such as reconnaissance, disposing of explosive devices, handling hazardous materials, and assessing threats.
UUVs and USVs
In addition to other unmanned systems, Unmanned Underwater and Surface Vehicles (UUVs and USVs) prevent personnel from carrying out dangerous underwater jobs, such as mine detection and anti-submarine warfare. This includes interception, tracking, shadowing, mapping, and surveying territorial and international waters. These systems can be used to provide situational awareness at sea. In addition to gathering data, detecting other naval craft and obstacles, and limiting exposure, UUVs and USVs can also be used as maritime swarming tools.
Exoskeletons and Powered Armor
Exoskeletons and powered armor are other tools made with robotic technology that can assist soldiers in carrying heavy loads, improve their safety and endurance, and increase their effectiveness on the battlefield. Furthermore, a robot on the battlefield provides enhanced precision, reduces risk for human soldiers, boosts surveillance and monitoring capabilities, and can improve logistics.

Challenges and Ethical Considerations
The most divisive issues surrounding the implementation of robots into our defense systems include threat detection, cybersecurity, and decision-making: Should robots be able to make life-or-death decisions? Despite some robots’ ability to make decisions without being influenced by emotions, their potential inability to differentiate between combatants and noncombatants could result in a higher level of accidental deaths.
Cybersecurity breaches could affect robots and turn them against us, which is a primary reason for opposing their widespread use in warfare. The wider adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as part of a robotic operating system could result in misguided actions on the battlefield. Developing a process for verification of robotic decision-making and accountability is needed to address the potential risk and ethical implications of their autonomous decision-making.
Designing robots that are embedded with situational awareness and capable of making logical and moral decisions will be a significant factor in addressing the concerns surrounding the use of this technology. This competence may require training the robots on social and moral norms and teaching them to communicate as they analyze situations with this lens and receive feedback from humans on sensitive matters.
Cevians Technology and Support of Robotics in Military Strategies
Robotics is transforming military strategies by improving operational efficiency and reducing risks to soldiers. Cevians technology, including precision optics and coatings used in advanced camera and sensor systems, enable robots and UAVs to accurately relay real-time images and data to command and control displays or other devices. Key applications of this technology include UV, visible, and NIR optics, where robots use cameras or sensors for enhanced vision and data capture, and rugged displays, which are often customized with features like night vision or covert capabilities to meet battlefield requirements. These advancements highlight the growing importance of robotics in shaping the future of military operations.
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