The Future of Unmanned Ground Vehicles

Popular Science recently posted an article about the benefits to UGAs, unmanned ground vehicles. These unmanned vehicles will give us the opportunity of not sending troops into hostile territories. In the article Lt. General Rick Lynch said that the, “robot systems already in place could have saved 122 of the 155 men who died during his time at Iraq”. Lynch has a Master’s Degree in robotics from MIT, and knows the mechanics behind these machines. He believes that by remotely deploying these robots they can lower casualties by IEDS, Improvised Explosive Devices, and lose the risk of sending troops into hostile areas for surveillance. The SWORD, Special Weapons Observation Reconnaissance Detection System, was the first UGAs to be deployed in Iraq, but was restricted because of safety concerns. It did not fire one shot. Lynch believes in the current technology, and that it can overcome concerns with it shooting the wrong people. Lynch is quoted saying, “’There’s a resistance that armed ground robots are not ready for the battlefield. I’m not of that camp,’” (Fox). Lynch believes that our military can greatly benefit from UGAs right away. He wants to avoid any casualties at any cost. He believes that these robots can change the way we approach military problems.
On Popular Mechanics, it goes it more depth on UGAs and the functions. For years troops have used UGAs to look around corners and detect hidden bombs. But, with new technology scientist are trying to arm these UGAs, so that troops are less at risk. It will use GPS to navigate through hostile territories. When a target is detected, the machine will be able to “calculate its own firing positions”, waiting for an operator to take control and fire. We have already armed unmanned ariel vehicles with bombs. The MULE, Multifunction Utility/ Logistics and Equipment, is a UGA that is around the size of a Humvee, and has the same abilities as a monster truck. If one of its legs gets blown off, the robot will be able to center itself, and drive on the other wheels. The MULE is not ready for battle, and is only 80 percent through the initial phase. Once the armed UGAs are finalized, our military will be able to avoid dangerous missions with humans, and decrease the risk of IEDs.
Popular Mechanic was definitely the better source. It went into depth about the history and the future of UGAs. It talks about many UGAs that could be introduced into the near future. Popular Science also has a good article, but it doesn’t go in depth with UGAs. Also, it was very seemed very bias because of Lynch. Lynch has every reason to believe that the new UGAs should be used. He has been to Iraq, and knows what can be avoided by using UGAs. The reason that this matters to me is because I have relatives and friends that are going and have gone to Iraq. I am sure everyone knows someone that has gone to Iraq or as been deployed. And, everyone wants to see him or her come home safe.

Fox, Stuart. "US General Demands Robot Army, Counts 122 Lives That Bots Could Have Saved." Popular Science: October 13,
2009. http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2009-10/us-general-demands-robot-army-claims-bots-could-save-lives

Sofge, Erik. "America's Robot Army: Are Unmanned Fighters Ready for Combat?" Popular Mechanics: March 2008. http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military_law/4252643.html?page=1