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The United States Marine Corps has tested a rocket launcher-wielding “robotic goat” quadruped robotic platform during development of emerging technologies.
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Tactical Training Exercise Control Group (TTECG), Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command and Office of Naval Research personnel test fired an M72 light anti-tank weapon rocket launcher from the robotic goat, at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center on 9 September.
The robotic goat can also reportedly carry various sensors or weapon systems that would otherwise be carried by a US Marine.
“Instead of having a Marine handle the weapon system, manipulate the safeties, we could put a remote trigger mechanism on it that allowed it to all be done remotely,” said 1st Lieutenant Aaron Safadi, officer in charge, emerging technology integration section, TTECG.
“The Marine could be behind cover and concealment, the weapon system could go forward, and the Marine could manipulate the safeties from a safe place while allowing that weapon system to get closer to its target.”
Other robotic platforms being tested include unmanned aircraft systems and HDT Hunter Wolf, a 2,200-pound unmanned vehicle capable of carrying various sensors or heavy weaponry. Marines at MCAGCC are also trialling developed virtual training technology to train joint tactical air controllers and forward air controllers.
Earlier this year, the Australian Defence Force undertook similar robotic development experiments after firing Javelin missiles from a Warfighter unmanned ground vehicle during March.
The Australian Defence Force’s Special Operations Command held a live fire demonstration with the Javelin portable man-portable anti-tank system at Singleton Military Training Area in NSW in which the Cyborg Dynamics Engineering UGV system was able to fire multiple Javelin anti-tank missiles from the unmanned ground vehicle and reportedly hit targets with accuracy at maximum range. The Javelin is produced under joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.
In September, Queensland aerospace company Black Sky Aerospace (BSA) announced a partnership with Australian robotics developer Funnel Web Systems had yielded an armed Funnel Web portable ground robot prototype. That prototype was armed with remotely launched rockets. The Funnel Web, named after the deadly Australian spider, is a rugged, highly mobile platform that can be rapidly deployed, uses military grade communications and a hand controller.
BSA chief executive officer Blake Nikolic said the development could keep soldiers safer as it gives ground units the tactical advantage while keeping them out of harm’s way.
“We can see use cases such as for Ukraine where a missile needs to launch from a location that might put soldiers at too much risk or be otherwise inaccessible.”
