Theres a green robot dog named Chappie wandering around Buckley Space Force Base in Colorado.
It can sniff out nuclear and chemical weapons.
The Space Force calls the robot dog a quadrupedal unmanned ground vehicle or QUGV.
Chappie on the prowl.© U.S. Space Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jordan Thompson
But readers will recognize it as the kind of Boston Dynamics-style robot dog drone.
There are a dozen different models of this thing out there.
Theyre so common you’re free to buy them on Amazon.
The logo and name of the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Quadrupedal Unmanned Ground Vehicle, named CHAPPIE. (U.S. Space Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jordan Thompson)
But Chappie, which is named after the 2015 science fiction movie, is special.
Its outfitted with special sensors that help it detect dangerous materials.
Dominic Garciathe human brain behind Chappiesaid in a press release.
I thought there had to be a safer and faster way.
Garcia applied for a research grant in 2022 and received $1.24 million to develop the robot dog.
According to the Space Force press release about Chappie, this is only the beginning.
Future upgrades aim to further improve its mobility, enabling it to navigate more complex environments.
The Marines hadstrapped a rocket launcherto the thing and taught it how to fire the weapon.
Its able to growl, bark, and even throw sirens.
Kyiv has also deployed an army of robot dogs in its war against Russia.
In August, German news sources ran video and images of the machines in action on the frontlines.
The Ukrainian military has begun using a robotic scout dog to assist in various tasks.
This robotic gear aids in reconnaissance, conducting operations, and gathering intelligence on the battlefield.
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Buyers are locked into an ecosystem with complicated software thats required to operate the vehicle.
