In the rugged terrains of a mountaintop, a series of footprints, seemingly belonging to a small animal, led towards unmarked containers mimicking an urban environment. The surroundings were eerily silent, save for the thuds resonating from within the containers, creating an atmosphere of anticipation.
Finally emerging from the containers was a four-legged entity, approximately the size of a German Shepherd. However, this was no ordinary dog; it was a green, spider-faced robotic dog equipped with an array of sensors and cameras serving as its eyes. This innovative “spider dog” is an unmanned ground vehicle designed by Ghost Robotics in the United States, with capabilities developed by the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) in Singapore. The Singapore Army is currently testing it as part of Exercise Forging Sabre in Idaho to provide soldiers with a technological edge in urban operations.
Captain Loy Yong Wei, from the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF) Sense and Strike Accelerator Centre, emphasized that these robot dogs offer a “viable solution” for navigating complex terrains and highly urbanized landscapes. They can autonomously perform terrain confirmation and target detection, reducing the need for soldiers to be physically present.
Mr. Bryan Ng, who heads the capability development of unmanned ground vehicles at DSTA, stressed that these robot dogs prioritize soldier safety. “If it does detect a threat, then actually, its job is done. If it gets shot, it’s done its duty already… that’s why we use robots for this, not humans,” he explained.
In addition to the robot dogs, the army has incorporated micro UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) into its arsenal. Reconnaissance troops from the 11C4I battalion demonstrated how a single soldier can operate multiple small drones using a tablet. These drones follow pre-planned flight routes, scanning the battlefield and automatically identifying targets, including vehicles and weapon systems, through algorithms. The captured footage is streamed to a screen in the field, facilitating rapid threat assessment.
Major Alvinder Singh, head of intelligence and operations development at the Army Intelligence Headquarters, highlighted the dual benefits of these micro UAVs: reduced manpower requirements and enhanced situational awareness for soldiers.
Meanwhile, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is testing larger drones, approximately the size of a lorry tire, to provide feedback to the command post for informed decision-making. These drones autonomously scan the battlefield according to predefined parameters, working in tandem with other RSAF UAVs flying at higher altitudes.
Captain Lim Ryan, part of the RSAF’s drone swarm project, explained that the term “swarm” refers to the algorithm developed for these drones to operate autonomously. They can divide large areas for efficient searching, relay information to the command post, and support tactical decision-making.
