$150,000 per unit — this is the price tag for the U.S. military's humanoid robot soldiers.
The blueprint of future warfare.
The "soldier" is designed to carry rifles, march at speeds approaching 4 miles per hour (6,430 meters), transport over 44 pounds (20 kilograms) of gear, and clear battlefields before any human warrior even sets foot inside.
This product is produced by U.S. startup Foundation and has already secured contracts worth $24 million from the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The goal is to produce 50,000 units by the end of 2027, scaling up from about 50 units this year to 10,000 next year.
A U.S. Army general once suggested that robots could replace a quarter of combat troops by 2030.
More than a decade has passed since that prediction was made, and so far, no replacement has occurred.
It’s not that “robots are replacing soldiers,” but rather that the U.S. military has just found a way to spend $150,000 to avoid putting humans in the front line.
There’s also a misconception that needs clarification: although humanoid robots look like humans, they cannot decide whom to shoot.
Protocol requires human confirmation before any automated system is activated. This is critical.
What’s truly being replaced is the real soldier who must risk their life—first to rush through the door, first to climb the mountain, first to enter an unexamined room.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1872470108822540/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.