A US robotics company, Foundation, is in talks with national security agencies to deploy humanoid robots for patrolling the southern border. The robots, called Phantom, can autonomously navigate rugged terrain and detect people.
Border Patrol Application
The company’s CEO, Sankaet Pathak, envisions the robots conducting reconnaissance and surveillance in areas difficult for humans to access. Pathak believes the robots can fill the gap left by existing automated solutions, which struggle with tasks such as logistics and navigating complex terrain.
The robots can distinguish humans from other obstacles, traverse uneven terrain, and map their environment. The goal is for the robots to conduct reconnaissance functions autonomously before flagging potential border crossings for human officers.
Future Developments
A second-generation model of the Phantom robot is expected to be waterproof, dustproof, and more rugged for outdoor deployment. While the immediate vision centers on surveillance and reconnaissance, the company is willing to arm the robots for border operations if requested by the federal government.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
