Robot dog battles drone in fireworks fight, sparking future warfare concerns

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Robot dog battles drone in fireworks fight, sparking future warfare concerns

A robotic dog fighting an aerial drone is the future of warfare that one would expect in science fiction.

But a video depicting this real-life scene has gone viral on social media sites in China and brought up discussions about a future where machines engage in warfare and what it would take to become the ultimate victor.

Fighting with drones has gone from futuristic to a common theme in warfare. At the turn of this century, the US flew its first drones with wings as wide as 66 feet (20 m) and a cruising altitude of 50,000 feet (15,000 m), but it cost millions of dollars to build one.

In just over two decades, drones have become smaller, nimbler, and so inexpensive to produce that they have become dispensable.

Last month, the Ukrainian defense ministry confirmed that its armed forces used more than 1.2 million drones in 2024 during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War. On its part, Russia has produced over 1.4 million drones as both sides deploy hundreds of drones in their attacks.

Dog vs Drone

The clip circulated on social media does not mention the location of the shot but shows the drone with fireworks fitted onto its landing gear. The dog also has a fireworks firing mechanism mounted on its back, and the two are dueling each other while dodging shots fired.

In the short clip, the drone also moves away from its position along an arc to present a new angle of attack, forcing the dog to maneuver itself and combat the new threat. It is unclear from the clip if the two robots are being controlled manually or are operating autonomously, but it has opened up discussions on what warfare means in the near future.

Users on social media went ahead to speculate that this was the ‘First Machine War’ and ‘Dawn of Modern Warfare powered by artificial intelligence,’ reported the

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(SCMP), while others commented on the advantages of these drones in certain environments and how they could be deployed.

Civilian tech turns to military might

From the imagery available, it appears that both the drone and the robotic dog used in this demonstration are not of military build at all. The drone is likely from DJI, while the robotic dog is from Unitree. Both manufacturers are based in China and strongly maintain that their technology is for civilian use only.

Last year, Shenzhen-based DJI categorically suspended its operations in Russia and Ukraine since its technology was being used for military applications. Interesting Engineering has previously reported how robotic dogs can be easily

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to fire at targets. Amidst all this, China has tightened its export policies about drones and their components to prevent military use.

However, other companies such as China North Industries Group Corporation (Norinco) have demonstrated a robotic wolf that can support military operations such as reconnaissance and transport and even help in attacks during operations, the SCMP report added.

The ******** military has also showcased two versions of the robotic dogs, built by Unitree, in joint military exercises with Cambodia last year.

This signals China’s real intent to use drones for military purposes in the near future. This is unsurprising since even technology as benign as

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has found a military application. Drones and robotic dogs have far greater utility on the battlefield, and it is only a matter of time before we see them deployed more frequently.

China is priming itself to become the main supplier of these units. The question is how will the US respond?

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#Robot #dog #battles #drone #fireworks #fight #sparking #future #warfare #concerns

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