Russian daily Komsomolskaya Pravda recently published a report on concept technologies being developed for that nation's armed forces. Highlighting achievements by the Foundation for Advances Studies, or FAS, the paper wrote about unmanned and robotic systems that are undergoing the last trials before their consideration for operational duty. The Foundation -- essentially the Russian version of America's Defense Advanced Research Project Agency -- was established in 2012 to ensure the dynamic development of breakthrough and high-risk research and development in the interests of national defense and state security. Over the past year the fund has registered 22 inventions, 23 informational programs, four utility models and eight specifically-tailored computer programs.
In establishing the Foundation, Russian President Vladimir Putin cited time and technological pressures:
"Today we are witnessing the birth of the new global technological order, based on cutting-edge discoveries in biotechnology, nanotechnology, and information systems. These technologies will soon dictate not only socio-economics, but also a political agenda on the planet. Russia must not stand aside from these processes, since the risks of a sudden altering of the military-strategic balance due to the introduction and implementation of these technologies may be too high for our country."
According to Putin’s decree, FAS research is to focus on the implementation of three megaprojects, titled Future Soldier, Future Weapons System, and Cyber Weapons of the Future.
KP highlighted the FAS's development of a fully autonomic humanoid robotic system dubbed Iron Man, capable of preforming a wide range of autonomous and manned tasks, such as driving an automobile in hazardous conditions.
According to the paper, Iron Man behind the wheel of a car is not yet a full-fledged robot, but a collection of technological developments called Anthropomorphic Platform Number 1. FAS is testing various robotics platforms, with "hands" as the most important element in one and "feet" in another, developing and testing out balance systems, steps, and complicated coordination movements.
This second robotic platform can be self-supporting -- its automated systems maintain balance and parry various obstacles in order to reach the intended target. If the robot falls down, it then rises unattended. The FAS press service described recent achievements of such robotics to KP:
"Besides virtual driving, this anthropomorphic platform can carry out welding and other work. In the future, our robot has to pass a specific test in order to be usable -- complete an obstacle course, get into the car, start it, drive it, enter a room, turn on the lights ... It will be a test for maturity, the willingness in the future to replace a human in battle or in emergency areas where there is a risk of explosion, fire, high background radiation, or other conditions that are harmful to humans."
This brings to mind Boston Dynamic's Atlas robot, built to maintain balance and operate indoors and outdoors in a variety of environments.
Other technologies under development by FAS include breathable and waterproof fabric for military uniforms, as well as weapons with increased sighting range and destructive power. According to the FAS press service, "the Foundation has created an effective system of selection of qualitatively new, breakthrough technologies related to national defense and security. All projects are based on the latest achievements of fundamental and applied science."
Besides Iron Man robots, FAS is developing what it calls the Nerehta robotic weapons system for the Russian Ministry of Defense. This is an unmanned tracked all-terrain vehicle that can work in fully autonomous or manned modes. This platform can be used for reconnaissance, attack, or transportation, and a variety of weapons and technology kits can be installed on it based on the operational environment.
Nerehta was initially equipped with a machine gun, but the platform can also carry a grenade launcher or an anti-missile defense system. The FAS recently tested an automatic control system for Nerehta that incorporates elements of artificial intelligence, allowing for the operation of multiple robotic systems by synchronizing their work.
KP writes that FAS projects are aimed at "finding solutions to very important scientific and technical problems that will determine the shape of the means of armed struggle, and dual-use systems in 20-30 years. FAS work complements the activities of the State Armaments Program and federal target programs in the field of the country's defense and security."
While Russia’s economy and society may be headed for turbulent and uncertain times, it appears that the Russian Ministry of Defense still intends to put necessary resources and technologies in the hands of its armed forces in order to achieve technological parity with world's most advanced armies.
