The observation that “scale built for urgency” defines the THeMIS initiative highlights the same dialectic Clausewitz described: war as “a remarkable trinity” between
1. violence and emotion (people),
2. chance and probability (military forces), and
3. political purpose (government).
Robotic warfare redistributes weight within that trinity by reducing emotional exposure but elevating the technical and organizational friction of control.
In short, I feel that the Ukraine THeMIS project demonstrates that while the character of war evolves with robotics, autonomy, and industrial scale, the nature of war, the human, political struggle animated by will, friction, and danger remains immutable.
Totally agree. On a side note, I’m working on a piece right now about a company working on the world’s first humanoid robot soldiers. Most companies have avoided making their humanoid bots into murder bots due to some unwritten pop culture rule that makes people uneasy. Personally, I don’t see the distinction between sending a tracked Ukrainian robot to kill invaders, or a bipedal one.
Interesting, but I think the quadrupeds, such as that from Boston Dynamics, will prove superior to humanoids for combat operations - more stable, and better at rough ground.
Humanoid will really only be superior when it comes to interfacing with equipment designed for a human crew - four humanoid robots could operate a tank without it needing any modification, and the same would go for artillery and air defence systems.
Of course building the robot into such systems would be even better, as you'd only need one with suitable peripherals, but a lot less flexible.
The observation that “scale built for urgency” defines the THeMIS initiative highlights the same dialectic Clausewitz described: war as “a remarkable trinity” between
1. violence and emotion (people),
2. chance and probability (military forces), and
3. political purpose (government).
Robotic warfare redistributes weight within that trinity by reducing emotional exposure but elevating the technical and organizational friction of control.
In short, I feel that the Ukraine THeMIS project demonstrates that while the character of war evolves with robotics, autonomy, and industrial scale, the nature of war, the human, political struggle animated by will, friction, and danger remains immutable.
nice work on the article too as always.
150 is good, but 1500 with 150 replacements a week would be better.
The battle of Lyptsi late last year showed that UGVs can, in fact, replace infantry is assaulting defended positions.
This is how Ukraine can liberate territory without the sorts of casualties Russia has suffered to enslave it.
Totally agree. On a side note, I’m working on a piece right now about a company working on the world’s first humanoid robot soldiers. Most companies have avoided making their humanoid bots into murder bots due to some unwritten pop culture rule that makes people uneasy. Personally, I don’t see the distinction between sending a tracked Ukrainian robot to kill invaders, or a bipedal one.
Interesting, but I think the quadrupeds, such as that from Boston Dynamics, will prove superior to humanoids for combat operations - more stable, and better at rough ground.
Humanoid will really only be superior when it comes to interfacing with equipment designed for a human crew - four humanoid robots could operate a tank without it needing any modification, and the same would go for artillery and air defence systems.
Of course building the robot into such systems would be even better, as you'd only need one with suitable peripherals, but a lot less flexible.
War is good business. For arms dealers and undertakers.
Get some help.