Perhaps we have all underestimated the speed of development of robots. Yesterday, the 3rd Independent Assault Brigade of Ukraine announced that in the Kharkiv region, they forced Russian soldiers to surrender to unmanned equipment solely using drones and suicide ground combat platforms, marking a historical first. The emergence of robots has undoubtedly brought unprecedented changes to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Previously, on July 2, there were reports that the Ukrainian military’s AI combat robots equipped with the American M2 Browning heavy machine gun had already been operational on the battlefield in Ukraine.
This raises the question: will technologies such as physical AI, robotics, and embodied intelligence become the key to victory on future battlefields? Is the nature of warfare truly evolving from “carbon-based dominance” to “silicon-carbon integration”?
Military robots are infiltrating all areas of combat. Ground robot technology is the most challenging, as it must navigate complex terrains and frequent environmental interactions. Many countries have already deployed ground robots in actual combat, such as the U.S. PackBot and TALON series. In China, military robots are typically classified by platform weight, with their technical characteristics reflected across multiple dimensions including perception, decision-making, and execution. Military drones have rapidly proliferated globally since the 21st century, with over 80 countries now equipped with them. China’s military drone development includes medium to high-altitude long-endurance reconnaissance and strike drones.
Military robots serve various purposes, including transportation, search and rescue, bomb disposal, reconnaissance and surveillance, armed operations, and training. For example, China’s “Jiutian” drone can be flexibly configured to serve as both a transport aircraft and a missile carrier; Japan used rescue robots during the Fukushima nuclear disaster to perform tasks in high-radiation environments; and the iRobot PackBot demonstrated excellent bomb disposal capabilities during the Iraq War.
Humanoid robots have seen a surge this year, showcasing their capabilities on the battlefield. The “PLA Daily” mentioned that humanoid robots can maneuver flexibly in complex terrains, with the “Tiangong” robot demonstrating advantages in bipedal movement on the battlefield. A Russian robot’s bionic “hand” capable of operating light weapons has sparked considerable discussion.
However, despite advancements in military robot technology, challenges remain. AI algorithms may lead to decision-making errors, communication systems are vulnerable to cyberattacks, and there are ethical and legal controversies, along with high costs for research, deployment, and maintenance.
Looking to the future, military robots have several technological development directions. Swarm technology will enable large numbers of autonomous drones or robots to work collaboratively; AI technology will allow robots to understand commands and convey battlefield information; human-robot collaboration will require better interactive control interfaces; and miniaturization will showcase mobility advantages. How military robots will change the landscape of warfare in the future is something we should continue to monitor.
