Recently Hangzhou, Zhejiang based Unitree announced a humanoid robot that costs just 39,999 yuan, or 5,900 USD.
It is capable of doing complex movements like hand stands, cartwheels, punching, lying down prone, and standing up again on its own. It weighs 25 Kilos, and is about as tall as a smaller sized human.
I think this is an area we should be paying very special attention to. AI is getting all the hype, but it’s unlikely to have a big effect on the outcome of a war. Being able to mass produce soldiers though? That’s a game changer.
These robots would work in any terrain a human can once water proofed, and could be remotely piloted by human soldiers. Retrofitting them with weapons systems would be simple, and they could have armor plating added on so they could just stand under heavy fire and be fine. You’d need higher caliber rounds to take them out. (Exactly the things that the US is floundering to secure metals to make since China controls so much of the rare earth industry).
I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say that these could be the equivalent of the invention of the musket. If WW3 happens sometime in the next decade i expect the world to be shocked as it becomes clear war will never be the same again. It’s like a countdown has begun where everyday we get closer to the moment one of these is first used in a peer conflict, and an arms race begins. One China already seems to be winning before it even starts.
The ability to hack/jam signals will make onboard AI very important. They have had to start using fiber optic cables to control suicide drones in Ukraine. You can’t do that with infantry for so many reasons.
I think the humanoid shape will be a novelty/specialty use case. Our frame is not the most efficient. We are tree dwellers who have adapted to life on the ground.
Hacking and jamming will be an issue for all warfare going forward yeah. As for the human shape i think its important to note WHERE we fight wars. Typically it is in areas designed around humans. Our infrastucture is all designed for human use. So having a robot shaped like a human means it can use all the same infrastucture we can. and the same tools. For example making something too wide and it cant fit through a door.
a small quad copter with a rifle caliber gun and good targeting software would be more effective and cheaper
I responded to your other comment already so read that too, but i want to add something. If quad copters were going to replace infantry they already would have. We see in Russia, and Ukraine that is not the case. They of course have their uses, but they supplement infantry not replace it. Robotic humanoids replace infantry. They are not competeing with quad copters for their role. It’s apples, and oranges.