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Humanoid robots are being prepared for combat as China moves them from labs to military training grounds
TechSpot • • business
Key Points:
- China is advancing humanoid robot technology rapidly, with machines now capable of running faster than humans and performing complex movements like parkour, aiming to integrate them into military combat roles.
- The People's Liberation Army (PLA) is actively pushing to transition these robots from research labs to military training, reflecting plans for their deployment alongside robot dogs and unmanned vehicles in combat scenarios within the next 5 to 10 years.
- Despite technological progress, current humanoid robots face limitations such as high energy consumption and instability on rough terrain, meaning fully autonomous combat squads are not yet operational.
- Proposed military uses for these robots include reconnaissance, logistics, patrols, and operations in confined spaces, with some models like Norinco's Fuxi capable of sentry duties and remote control.
- Ethical and operational concerns remain, particularly regarding AI's ability to distinguish combatants from civilians and maintain human oversight of lethal force, with no evidence yet of armed humanoid robots deployed in active PLA units.
