The Boston Dynamics Spot robot was spotted (no pun intended) in action with French soldiers when they were training at École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr, the Army officers training school. Spot was just among the other robots that the soldiers were training with to determine how to use robots in various situations and functions.

In a news post at Ouest France, 80 soldiers from the IMEA or Inter-Arms Military School participated in the two-day exercise led by the Saint-Cyr Military Academy Research Centre (CREC Saint-Cyr). The exercise took place last 30-31 March 2021.

The participants used the robots in three different scenarios. The first one is  an offensive action that involved the capture of a crossroads. The second action is defensive action by day and then at night. The last scenario is urban combat."

The way the scenarios were played out was at first the non-use of the robots and then with the robots. According to one the participants, the use of the robots slowed them down but he said that he was “killed” in a scenario without the robot, but did not get killed with the robot used for reconnaissance. With Spot, the found out that it is limited with its batter life, and had to be carried out during the middle of an exercise when it ran out juice.

Joining Spot in the exercise are the OPTIO-X20 made by the Estonia-based Milrem Robotics which is a thread wheeled vehicle that is remote controlled and armed with a 20mm gun. The other wheeled robots are the multipurpose Barakuda from Shark Robotics and the Nextro UGV Ultro which is a mule robotic vehicle that can be used for medical evacuation and supply runs.

Developing doctrine with remote controlled and autonomous robots as adjuncts can help lower casualties for soldiers as they can go first into dangerous areas, scouting ahead for the squad, carry extra ammo and supplies as well as provide mobile cover with mounted guns and armour.

For those who are worrying that the Terminators are already on their way, they can really start worrying now as these robots are paving the way for more lethal autonomous machines or war.

Photo source: Saint-Cyr Coëtquidan Twitter page (@SaintCyrCoet)