U.S. Army's Introduction of Drone and Robotics Platoon into Armored Brigade Combat Teams

SOURCE www.defenseone.com
The U.S. Army may introduce drone and robotics platoons into its armored brigade combat teams, leading to a significant increase in the use of robotic systems for various missions.

Key Points

  • Proposal to include robotic and autonomous systems (RAS) platoons in armored brigade combat teams.
  • Use of ground robots and drones in various military missions.
  • Importance of direct control due to current limitations in autonomy levels.

Pros

  • Increased use of robotic systems can potentially save lives of infantry soldiers in war situations.
  • Ability to swap components for different missions is a critical feature of the program.
  • Experimentation with ground robots and drones can lead to advancements in military technology.

Cons

  • Challenges include speed of controlling vehicles and limitations in spectrum allocation for military operations.
  • Current autonomy levels of the systems are not advanced enough for full autonomous operation.