An Israeli defense contractor on Monday unveiled a remote-controlled armed robot that it says it can patrol battle zones, track down infiltrators and open fire. The unmanned vehicle is the latest addition to the world of drone technology, which is rapidly reforming the modern battlefield.
Proponents say these semi-autonomous machines allow armies to protect their soldiers, while critics fear this would be another dangerous step for robots making decisions about life or death.
The four-wheel drive robot unveiled on Monday in Lod was developed by the state-owned “REX MKII” Israel Aerospace Industries.
It works with an electronic tablet and can be equipped with two machine guns, cameras and sensors, said Rani Avni, deputy director of the company’s autonomous systems division. The robot can gather intelligence for ground troops, bring wounded soldiers and supplies in and out of battle, and attack nearby targets.
It is the most advanced of more than half a dozen unmanned vehicles developed by Aerospace Industries subsidiary ELTA Systems in the past 15 years.
The Israeli military is currently using a smaller but similar vehicle called the Jaguar to patrol the border with the Gaza Strip and help enforce the blockade imposed by Israel in 2007, after the small Islamic terrorist group Hamas seized authority. Palestinian Authority to the Palestinian Authority. Israel maintains the blockade to prevent Hamas from acquiring weapons that would be used in the Jewish state.
Gaza is home to 2 million Palestinians who have been largely closed by the blockade, which is also supported to some extent by Egypt, which operates a civilian border crossing inside and outside the enclave. The border area with Israel is the site of frequent protests and occasional attempts by Palestinian terrorists to infiltrate Israel.
Rani Avni, deputy head of Industrial Aerospace Industries’ standalone systems division, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at an IAI facility near the central Israeli city of Lod on September 9, 2021. ( Sebastian Scheiner / AP)
The Israeli military did not respond when asked for details on how it uses the Jaguar, one of many tools, including drones armed with guided missiles, that have given it great technological superiority over Hamas.
Unmanned ground vehicles are increasingly used by other armies, including those in the United States, Britain, and Russia. His duties include logistical support, mine clearance and firearms.
The tablet can control the vehicle manually. But many of its functions, including its movement and surveillance system, can also function autonomously.
“With each mission, the device collects more data that it then learns for future missions,” said Yonni Gedj, operations expert in the company’s robotics division.
Critics have expressed concern that robotic weapons may decide on their own, perhaps erroneously, to shoot at targets. The company says these capabilities exist but are not offered to customers.
“It is possible that the weapon itself is also autonomous; however, today it is a user decision, “Avni said.” The maturity of the system or the user is not there yet. “
Bonnie Docherty, a senior researcher in the weapons division of Human Rights Watch, said these weapons are worrisome because one cannot rely on the distinction between combatants and civilians or make appropriate calls about the damage attacks can cause to nearby civilians. .
“Machines can’t understand the value of human life, which basically undermines human dignity and violates human rights laws,” Docherty said. In a 2012 report, Docherty, a professor at Harvard Law School, called for international law to ban fully automated weapons.
‘REX MKII’ four-wheel drive semi-autonomous from Israel Aerospace Industries is seen at an IAI facility near the central Israeli city of Lod on September 9, 2021. (Sebastian Scheiner / AP)
Defense magazine Janes said the development of autonomous land vehicles has lagged behind autonomous aircraft and ships, as moving by land is much more complex than navigating by water or air. Unlike the open ocean, vehicles have to deal with “holes in the road” and know exactly the force that needs to be applied to overcome a physical obstacle, according to the report.
The technology of vehicles with automatic driving has also raised concerns. Electric car maker Tesla, among other companies, has been linked to a series of fatal crashes, including an incident in Arizona in 2018 when a woman was hit by a car she was driving on autopilot.
The Israeli drone vehicle is on display at this week’s international arms and security system weapons fair in London.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.