The military is, beyond the shadow of a doubt, the most vital asset of any country. A capable military represents a strong nation. As a result, most of the hi-tech innovations are devised while keeping military applications in mind. Unmanned robots are no exception. They, too, are designed to reinforce a country’s military operations.
Self-reliant robots are changing the nature of modern warfare
Conventional warfare capabilities are not enough to win wars anymore. In the present climate, it is advanced technologies that dictate where the scales tip in an armed conflict.
With the potential of combat, resistance to harsh environments, and challenging terrains, military robots are becoming a viable alternative to human soldiers. They are deployed in wars, especially when the opposing army has more than enough men and firepower to harm troops.
There are also bomb-squad robots that are designed to inspect and defuse possible explosive devices. In 2016, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation deployed such multi-functional, mine-clearing robotic systems called Uran-6 for the removal of explosive devices in Palmyra, Syria.
Then there are four-legged robot dogs that are created to patrol small battle spaces and deliver the much-needed data resources. These all-terrain bots can accomplish tasks including remote inspection, surveillance, and mapping.
Robotic lenses – the impetus for change
The said change in warfare has been made possible specifically because of the premium lenses these robots are equipped with.
Some autonomous machines which move via tank treads have infrared visions and multiple cameras. The powerful vision, along with mechanical arms and floodlight, provides them with the ability to spot and defuse hidden bombs, which human eyes might overlook.
A group of bio-inspired bipedal robots named SAFFiR (short for Shipboard Autonomous Fire-Fighting Robot), first employed by the U.S. Navy, was used to find and extinguish fires aboard naval ships. Equipped with a suite of cameras, gas sensors, and a stereo infrared camera with high-quality lenses, these brave firefighters easily found their way through the blinding smoke, bringing the fire under control.
In a recent trial, the U.S. Air Force trotted out dog-like robots at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. In this exercise, which was a part of a test of the Advanced Battle Management System (AMBS), Robo-hounds were released by some airmen.
Chief Master Sgt. Boston A. Alexander, the team chief for this exercise, informed that “the dogs gave us visuals of the area, all while keeping our defenders closer to the aircraft.” The high quality and precise visuals were only made possible with the help of premium robotic lenses.
Finally, Uran-6 used by Russians in 2016 had four cameras that were fitted atop the robots. Because of the lenses implanted, the cameras could provide 360-degree field-of-view, giving real-time imagery to the soldiers.
The right lens will produce the desired results
As you can see, the choice of lens is of the utmost importance when it comes to robots in the military. They get the assigned task done with precision, reducing the loss of human life.