frameworks, and other key advances. However, in specific areas of the field of unmanned military frameworks, Russia might be creeping in front of its opposition in planning and testing a wide assortment of frameworks and conceptualizing their future use.
Before the eventual fate of war is acknowledged in combat zones, it is formed in labs and practice ranges. As Russia’s Ministry of Defense iterates design around the Marker unmanned ground vehicle, the Ministry of Defense is learning the opening plays of future robot fights. In the first half of 2020, Russia is expected to test robot swarms guided by armed humans in exercises to learn exactly how the nation should prepare for robot warfare in the future [16]. The Russian Ministry of Defense is bringing two robot tank designs in-house, following advancements from industry in developing these forms [17]. The Ministry of Defense has asked those involved in different military-mechanical endeavors to provide recommendations which will be surveyed ahead of schedule one year from now by the military’s Combined Arms Academy. The Russian state news agency has written that the initiative is intended to address “the virtual absence of a unified concept for the use of military robotics by the Russian armed forces” [18]. Figure 3.4 shows some advanced autonomous military robots.
Figure 3.4 Some advanced Russian military robots.
3.3.4 India
Artificial intelligence (AI), also known as the Industrial Revolution 4.0, has been making great strides in scientific and technological development across varying fields. It is capable of making noteworthy changes in the manner in which activities of civilians and military operations are conducted [22]. Countries across the world are busy making their armed forces more efficient using emerging technologies like AI, IoT, and robotics. Russia, China, and the United States are competing with each other to become the leader in this technology, with India also wanting to join this race [24]. India is planning to secure its border against autonomous armed robots from two major neighboring countries, China and Pakistan, using a smart surveillance alert system. The Indian Ministry of Defence has directed the Defence Research and Development Organisation to develop armed robots and other military equipment like autonomous tanks, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), etc.
In August 2017, the Indian Army stated that it intends to utilize several indigenously assembled robots to fight against terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. Purportedly these robots can convey ammo at the planned areas in the event of perilous and crisis circumstances has just endorsed a military proposition to enlist 544 robots for this reason. These robots are lightweight and consist of reconnaissance cameras and transmission frameworks with a scope of 200 meters [25, 36].
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was established in 1958, and ever since it has been working to make the Indian Army powerful in terms of technology. The DRDO has more than 1800+ industry partnerships and has collaborated with these companies to make equipment, systems, products and technologies for the army, some of which are [25]:
Daksh – Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV)
NETRA – Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
Confined Space Remotely Operated Vehicle (CSROV)
Surveillance Remotely Operated Vehicle (SROV) (on the verge of induction)
Unexploded Ordnance Handling Robot (UXOR)
Figure 3.5 Indian military robots.
Figure 3.5 shows a few autonomous robots developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation. The DRDO is responsible for research and development of weapons based on new technology in India and has more than 1800+ industrial partners for development and research of new weapons [25].
3.4 Application Areas of Robotics in Warfare
Robotics has a broad area of application in warfare because there are many dangerous tasks which should be performed by robots instead of humans like diffusing IEDs and bombs. In warfare there are several tasks to perform for which there are many types of specially designed robots. Armed forces can use robots to search out enemies in any kind of situation and destroy them. Robots can be a surveillance system, an autonomous tank, an aerial drone or an armed soldier. Some of the application areas of robotics are presented below.
3.4.1 Autonomous Drones
Drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are used all over the world by armies. They are armed with GPS, an infrared camera, and lasers, which makes them more dangerous. Unmanned aerial vehicles are IoT enabled. They are all connected with each using IoT techniques. The internet of things (IoT) provides a platform to connect devices so they can communicate with each other, transfer data using the cloud for better user experience or to perform military operations very efficiently [34]. As per a report by Goldman Sachs, global militaries will have spent $70 billion on UAV innovationsby 2020 [27].
The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is as of now taking a shot at semi-autonomous Demon UAVs that can be launched and recovered by a mothership [33]. Additionally, in the United Statespocket-sized observation bots are being tried. In the meantime, Germany and France have lately reported on designing and building another military aircraft named the “Eurodrone,” which is set for takeoff in 2040. Utilizing drones for military purposes might make sure that errands progress successfully and in a cost-efficient manner, in addition to sparing lives [35]. Drones can be sent in circumstances where keeping an eye on flight is considered excessively hazardous or troublesome, go about as a day in and day out eye in the sky, and convey arms with more note worthy exactness [27].
Figure 3.6 Autonomous drones in action.
Figure 3.6 shows autonomous drones in action. They can play an important role in any type of warfare. Using these drones, militaries can destroy enemies without entering their borders. They are especially useful for anti-terror military operations, and the United States have used these drones against terrorists in countries like Iraq and Afghanistan and have gotten amazing results.
3.4.2 Autonomous Tanks and Vehicles
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are used for security in the skies in a similar manner as autonomous tanks and vehicles are used for security on ground. They help reduce the risk of losing human life in warfare. Tanks can be autonomous or semi-autonomous and are equipped with surveillance systems, sensors, cameras, and weapons. UAVs are connected with each other through the internet of things (IoT) and communicate with each other on IoT platforms using the cloud. The IoT is an emerging technology like artificial intelligence (AI), the cloud and big data.
Russia, close to the United States, is one of the nations driving advances in unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) innovation. Lately, JSC 766 UPTK, a producer of military equipment, sent their Uran-6 UGVs to Syria to incapacitate bombs and mines and investigate unknown territories. They’re also building a 10-ton battle UGV with a 30mm gun and 7.62mm automatic rifle to be used against tank rockets, just as the T-14, a semi-self-governing tank. UGVs are getting basic to ground missions, going about as