Battle robot of Russia. Newest developments in armaments

Robots are increasingly being introduced into the daily life of modern man. This trend is particularly noticeable in the military field: in fact, a significant amount of developments in the field of robotics has a defensive origin. What are the capabilities of modern combat robots? Does Russia have competitive samples of such equipment?

Combat robots: specificity

Actually, what kind of weapon is it - a combat robot? Is it the weapon of the future or products that are already actively used in the advanced armies of the world?

As for the first question, the criteria vary greatly. Among Russian experts, the term "robot" is understood most often as a device capable primarily of independent decision-making. In particular, if we talk about the military sphere of application - about the capture of the target, about shooting, about movement in the locality, etc. That is, able to some extent replace a soldier. There are other interpretations of the term "combat robot". Thus, such machines can be understood as any development capable of ensuring the performance of combat missions without the actual presence of a person in their territory. At the same time, the autonomy of the machines is not necessary.

With regard to the criterion for independent performance of functions, robots can operate in a mode of full autonomy, partial or within the framework of human control. A typical combat robot of the future, experts believe, will be characterized mainly by independent work. Today, however, among the most common are semi-autonomous and controlled machines. Robots that are completely independent of humans, while rare, even for the military, in which the most advanced engineering concepts are often concentrated.

Combat robots in practice have been used in the armies of the world for a long time. However, the latest weapons of the appropriate type, as a rule, reflect the capabilities of the most advanced technologies - in the field of navigation, visual recognition of objects, artificial intelligence, weapons and other aspects. And because the newest generation of robots can be incomparably more progressive than those that were developed several years ago.

In practice, robotic solutions of a military type can be implemented in a variety of forms. It can be self-propelled installations - on independent platforms or integrated with current types of military equipment - armored cars, tanks. It can be flying machines. These can be underground or underwater devices. Among the most modern concepts - robots androids, that is, those that look like a human in appearance and are called upon to replace it in a number of combat tasks.

Government program

Russian military equipment based on robotic developments, thanks to the initiatives of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, will be created and implemented in the framework of an integrated target program approved in 2014. It is expected, in particular, that the share of robots in the armament structure of the Russian army may amount to about 30%. However, most of the items in the relevant program are still classified. But some facts are still known to the public. Consider them.

Current Developments

In particular, there is information that one of the robotic complexes is tested at a radio plant in Izhevsk. The machine with the MRK-002-BH-57 index, as some publications have shown, has a crawler track, can operate for about 10 hours in an autonomous mode or can be remotely controlled from a distance of up to 5 km. This Russian combat robot is equipped with a wide range of electronic equipment - range finder, thermal imager, calculator. The car is well armed: it is armed with a Kalashnikov machinegun, a grenade launcher, and also an automatic weapon of the Kord type.

The device, developed in Izhevsk, weighs about 900 kg, speeds up to 45 km / h and works on a gasoline engine. Autonomy of the robot is one of the key differences from foreign analogues, in particular American ones, which, as some experts note, can fully function effectively only in the mode of human control.

Also, there are reports that another Russian combat robot will be created on the basis of the Tiger machine. The corresponding kit will be equipped with a powerful anti-tank weapon of the "Cornet" type. However, there is very little public information about this development.

In the near future, the Russian army should receive small scouting robots, produced by the company "Sozvezdie". They are intended mainly for working underground. These machines are capable, for example, of determining how much the enemy's combat equipment is on the surface of the ground, its possible type, and the number of soldiers on the same area. The machine from the "Constellation" can perform part of the programs in stand-alone mode.

The company "Servosila" also produces small robots that can be used in exploration. So, for example, the machine "Engineer" is interesting in that it can climb up the stairs, capture small objects. Has an "engineer" system of high-precision visual recognition of surrounding objects, as well as a navigation module.

These are the latest developments in Russia in the field of robotics. Consider also other promising types of high-tech military products developed by designers from the Russian Federation.

Lasers

The newest military equipment in Russia is not only robots. Among the priorities of the Russian military-industrial complex is the development of laser installations. There is, in particular, information that the Russian army needs laser-based airborne systems. Alternatively, those that could be compatible with the A-60, equipped with equipment that can knock down satellites. The laser industry is regarded by Russian experts as one of the most promising in terms of effective modernization of the armed forces of the state.

Equipment

What other latest Russian developments in the aspect of promising technologies can be noted? Among the interesting samples - equipment for soldiers, in particular the kit "Ratnik". It is called combat equipment of a soldier of the future. "Ratnik" is a high-tech camouflage consisting of several dozen security elements, equipped with a thermal imager, a navigation system, a large number of sensors. At the disposal of the soldier who put on the "Ratnik", a submachine gun, a machine gun or a rifle with a night vision sight. Another notable example of the outfit is a 6B48 suit designed for tankmen. It is characterized by a high degree of protection of the body of the fighter from the fragments. The suit is also complemented by an armored headset.

Robots - in the ranks?

But back to the robots. There is information that the Russian weapons of the future based on robotic developments will be supplied to the army so that it can be used to complete entire companies. Among the promising areas of machine application is the protection of missile launchers. Also, as expected, robots will be able to perform reconnaissance tasks, participate in combat operations.

It can be noted that, for example, in the US, the latest military equipment in the form of robots for the purpose of protecting military facilities is also actively used. In particular, the MDARS machine is designed to control the territories on which the nuclear facilities are located. Americans also actively use unmanned equipment.

Autonomy or controllability?

Among today's experts, there is a discussion about whether the robotics industry should be accentuated in the direction of giving the car maximum autonomy. Americans, in particular, do not take too much interest in this, believing that even advanced, newer developments of such weapons can not make correct decisions in real conditions in real combat missions.

Certainly, autonomous robots in armies of different countries of the world are now being used. We have already mentioned Russian models. It is possible to note the Israeli development - the unmanned vehicle Harpy. In automatic mode, he can find, in particular, enemy radars.

Advantages of robots

What are the advantages that a robot can have in combat, if one compares its functions and capabilities with a technique controlled by people? First of all, in many cases this is a much higher effectiveness of target destruction. The fact is that by shooting from portable weapons, a soldier commits a large percentage of misses. Modern robots can use ammunition much more efficiently.

The next aspect is that the robot does not get tired. Its performance does not depend on the time of day. Provided, of course, that the access has the resources to recharge its batteries. Robots, under condition of high-quality software, as a rule, are less mistaken when performing similar operations.

Disadvantages of robots

In turn, potential errors in performing complex operations are among the main shortcomings of robots. In a real battle there are a lot of nuances of a psychological nature. Even the most modern robots can not take them into account. For example, it is unlikely that the machine will be able to recognize the enemy's desire to surrender or to distinguish a military man from a civilian by indirect signs - the presence of epaulettes, uniforms, etc. Of course, these nuances are relevant for machines of an autonomous type. Managed robots, one way or another, make key decisions according to human commands.

The robot of the future - what is it?

What is it like, a combat robot of the future? If we take into consideration a realistic scenario, then, as Russian experts believe, such a machine will be characterized, first of all, by the presence of pronounced competitive advantages over a person in the aspect of perception of the environment. This can be, for example, the ability to see objects at farther distances, to distinguish objects of smaller size, to have night vision, the ability to recognize infrared and ultraviolet waves.

In turn, the technological platform on which the robot will operate - ground, air, water - will be determined by the specifics of combat missions.

It is entirely possible, experts believe, that the typical solution for some military arms will be a robot-android capable of replacing a soldier in all major sectors of combat operations. That is, if necessary, then take the machine, sit at the helm of the aircraft, into the tank, etc. In this application, independent robotic platforms can become less effective solutions.

In turn, self-propelled complexes are likely to find their use if the task is to counteract the corresponding type of enemy weapons, that is, in battles in which human participation is not expected. Only robots will fight in this case.

Russian robot - as a person

Actually, already now a separate trend of the world's robotics is the development and production of machines, the possibilities of which are supposed to be replaced by them when solving individual human problems. This is how the combat robot of Russia, which was developed by the specialists of the Central Scientific Research Institute of Precision Engineering, gained its fame, thanks to the attention of the media. The machine presented personally to the President of the Russian Federation belongs to the class of robots androids.

Man is developing man. That is, this robot does not belong to the number of autonomous. Opportunities of the machine are shooting, as well as the management of some types of transport, in particular, ATV. There is information that the robot is an adaptation of another development, which is designed for use in open space - a manipulator such as SAR-401, which has the functions of copying human movements with manipulators and at the same time is able to capture small objects.

Interesting is the history of the robot, which, as some experts suggest, is the prototype of the "android" shown to the President. Several years ago, Russian researchers decided to create a machine that could be used to carry out rescue operations. Prospective development should have a wide range of functions - which would distinguish it from world analogues, which, according to some experts, are characterized by some narrowness of application. However, unambiguous facts that would talk about the continuity of SAR-401 and the robot that was presented to the President have not yet been put at the disposal of the general public.

Competitive solutions

Perspective combat robot of Russia, who can ride a quad bike is among the most advanced developments in the world, but he has analogues. In particular, the American agency DARPA, known for inventing the basic concepts that formed the basis of the Internet, has developed a robot-android, called ATLAS. Thus, the development of new technologies in the field of robotics is a world trend, according to many experts.

Robots androids: the prospect of real use

What can be the options for real use of machines like those developed by the Russian Institute of Precision Engineering? First of all, it is worth noting the fact that a significant amount of the device offered to the President is classified. The fact that the robot can ride a quad bike and shoot - not all of its functions, many experts believe. At the same time, experts believe, such devices still have to be improved mainly in the aspect of accomplishing tasks in an uncertain environment, one that is peculiar to real combat operations.

Competitiveness of the Russian school

What degree of readiness of the Russian robotic school is active, keeping up with the western colleagues, and even ahead of them, to introduce new military developments? The opinions of experts differ on this score. There are specialists who believe that the western robotics industry is noticeably ahead of the Russian one. This is also related to the volume of financing, especially in the 1990s, when the scientific base for current developments was laid, and with the level of infrastructure. In turn, there are experts who believe that Russian designers are in no way inferior to representatives of the western robotic school.

That proof is not only the Russian combat robot, which was donated to the President. In our country there are all resources for the training of personnel in the robotics industry, primarily at the academic level. In the country's universities there are specialties specializing in this field. At the same time, Russian engineers successfully develop robots not only for the needs of the defense industry, but also for civilian machines. One way or another, there is every reason to say that the Russian combat robot that manages the ATV is just one of the first examples of successful implementation of the design concepts of engineers from the Russian Federation.