The NCI Agency is exploring the use of autonomous systems to understand how and when they can support operations, and in particular, how different commercial devices from a variety of sources can be connected securely. This reflects a future where autonomous devices from different sources interoperate seamlessly. ‘Spot’, a remote-piloted ‘dog’ developed by Boston Dynamics is one component of the Agency’s work in this area.
The four-legged robot is intended to help improve situational awareness during military missions in hard-to-reach or dangerous environments. This venture is part of NATO’s recent commitment to explore emerging and disruptive technologies and their potential uses. This builds on previous work using simple Internet of Things (IoT) devices to create complex autonomous systems.
Spot could play a significant role in future NATO humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions. Dr Michael Street, Chief of Exploiting Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at the NCI Agency explains, “In the event of an evacuation mission or an environment too dangerous for personnel, Spot could act as a first responder to allow real-time analysis of the situation. This would support our commanders in making better, faster decisions, ultimately saving lives.”
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Source: NATO Communications and Information Agency