US Army tests autonomous combat robots at Fort Knox

The US Army is advancing the use of autonomous systems to reduce soldier exposure during high-risk combat operations. General James Rainey has advocated for using robots and unmanned platforms to handle initial contact with adversaries, performing tasks such as reconnaissance, threat identification, and route surveillance to serve as a protective shield for human troops.

In a recent demonstration at the St. Vith firing range in Fort Knox, Kentucky, four driverless ground vehicles from DARPA’s RACER program conducted a coordinated mission. The test, which integrated satellite imagery with ground operations, concluded with a simulated rocket hitting a target at approximately 275 meters. While the vehicles operated autonomously, a human operator was required to approve the final shot.