Will Robots Be Able to Fight and Defend Themselves Like Humans?

A robot may be able to throw a punch, block a blow, and even identify a moving target, but actual combat requires much more than muscles. Humans have a natural ability to read faces, body language, and react to unfolding events in real time. In the blink of an eye, one could see a person slipping on a puddge of water, and many would react instinctively to help.

A robot may have to make several calculations before deciding what action to take, and no action could be taken if it decided incorrectly that the accident wasn’t its fault or that no action was necessary.

The Limits of Robots Today

Robots today are limited in their ability to sense, calculate, and react to their environment. Made up of cameras, sensors, processors, batteries, and internet connections, robots run at the whim of the technology that makes them function. Smoke rising from an oncoming threat, darkness obscuring a hidden enemy, and faulty sensors could each lead to disastrous results.

In addition, robots must make judgement calls in battle, choosing when to disengage, when to protect innocents, and when to use force. The ability to reason is an extremely complex task for humans, and is completely out of reach for modern AI. Finally, robots must also be able to repair themselves after being damaged. This is not an easy task for humans either, and has proven much more complex than simply programming a robot to avoid conflict.

Could Robots Protect Humans One Day?

Robots will probably not be able to take over the role of sole defenders in the future. However, they will likely play an important role in the detection of threats, and have begun to assist humans in scouting hazardous areas, diffusing explosives, and even in general rescuing humans from harm.

As robotic technology advances, and robots are able to sense, calculate, and react better, they will take on a much larger role in defense and safety. At that point, the value of human judgement in combat, along with the ability to make difficult ethical deicisons, cannot be replaced, and humans and robots will likely operate as a combined force.

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