Army mulls introducing robot platoon into armored brigades

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama—The Army may introduce a drone and robotics platoon into its armored brigade combat teams, an Army leader announced Tuesday at the AUSA Global Force conference. Fielding RAS platoons to other types of brigade combat teams, such as infantry or Stryker brigades, would expand that number even more. The military has long experimented with ground robots, including quadruped robots more frequently referred to as robot dogs. The U.S. Army currently has two RAS platoons, one in the 82nd Airborne and one experimental platoon in Army’s Maneuver Center of Excellence. Controlling the vehicles at speed is a challenge, said Maj. Gen. Glenn Dean, program executive officer for ground combat systems.