The first Phantom MK-1 humanoid robots from the American company Foundation have been brought to Ukraine. They are to be tested to understand how useful such machines can be for reconnaissance, logistics, and other tasks in combat conditions.
The first Phantom MK-1 humanoid robots from the American company Foundation have been brought to Ukraine. They are to be tested to understand how useful such machines can be for reconnaissance, logistics, and other tasks in combat conditions.
According to Military, two Phantom MK-1 robots were transferred to Ukraine back in February. This was told to Time by the Foundation company, which positions Ukraine as a key platform for testing new military technologies in the real conditions of modern warfare.
The developers believe that humanoid platforms can be useful in places where conventional drones are not always effective. First of all, this concerns the delivery of equipment, reconnaissance in closed spaces, in particular in shelters and bunkers, as well as interaction with infrastructure created for humans. The Foundation also speaks directly about a more ambitious goal: in the future, the robot should learn to work with any weapon that a person can use.
At the same time, the developers themselves admit that the technology is still far from mature. Such machines are expensive, heavy, battery-dependent, can lose balance and remain vulnerable to technical failures. A separate risk is cybersecurity: if an enemy gains access to software vulnerabilities or communication channels, the robotic system can potentially be used against its own operators.
Another problem is the behavior of artificial intelligence in real combat. Experts quoted by Time warn that AI models can make mistakes, show bias, or deviate from their initial limitations when operating in a complex environment. That is why the principle in the US is that the final decision on the use of force should remain with a human.
The Phantom MK-1 is still undergoing early testing, and the company plans to show off the Phantom MK-2 in April. The new version, according to the developers, will have better electronics protection, water resistance, larger batteries, and will be able to carry up to 80 kg of cargo. This means that Ukraine has effectively become one of the first testing grounds where they are testing whether humanoid robots can go from concept to real military tool.
Previously, dev.ua wrote about how Airbus has signed an agreement with UBTech Robotics and will involve the Walker S2 humanoid in work in the aircraft manufacturer's production facilities. The tests are aimed not only at cheap labor, but also at autonomous replacement of the robot's own battery, which should ensure continuous operation in 24/7 mode.
