Foundation Robotics says its Phantom MK1 units are being evaluated for battlefield use while discussions continue about potential roles in U.S. border security.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A U.S.-based robotics company developing humanoid machines for industrial and defense applications has begun testing its technology in a conflict environment while pursuing potential partnerships with U.S. defense and homeland security agencies.
According to reporting from TIME, Foundation Robotics recently sent two of its Phantom MK1 humanoid robots to Ukraine for operational testing.
Company officials say the project is part of an effort to evaluate how humanoid robotic systems might perform in high-risk environments alongside human soldiers.
A spokesperson for the company said the Phantom platform is being developed with potential future deployment scenarios in mind, including operations supported by the U.S. Department of Defense.
The Pentagon “continues to explore the development of militarized humanoid prototypes designed to operate alongside warfighters in complex, high-risk environments,” the spokesperson said.
Foundation Robotics was founded by Sankaet Pathak and Mike LeBlanc, a former U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served 14 years and completed multiple deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.
LeBlanc said the company has also been in communication with the Department of Homeland Security regarding the possible use of the robots for border-related missions.
He told TIME the company is in “very close contact” with DHS about whether the Phantom robots could be adapted for patrol or monitoring duties along the U.S. southern border.
Foundation Robotics is already an approved vendor for the U.S. military and currently holds government research contracts totaling approximately $24 million with the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force.
The Phantom MK1 platform is designed to operate in environments that may pose risks to human personnel, including hazardous industrial settings and potential combat zones.
According to the report, the robots are expected to participate in training exercises with the U.S. Marine Corps involving “methods of entry” operations. These exercises train personnel in breaching techniques used to enter buildings, structures, or ships during military operations.
Such training includes multiple approaches to forced entry, including explosive, ballistic, thermal, manual, and mechanical breaching methods.
LeBlanc said the development of humanoid systems represents what he described as a progression in military robotics technology.
He noted that the evolution of unmanned systems has already moved from aerial drones to ground-based robotic platforms, and that humanoid machines could represent a further step in that progression.
LeBlanc said robotic systems do not experience fatigue or psychological stress and could potentially be used in situations considered too dangerous for human soldiers.
The testing of humanoid robotic systems comes as militaries around the world expand the use of automation and artificial intelligence in warfare.
Conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have seen widespread deployment of unmanned technologies, including first-person-view drones, autonomous ground robots, and AI-assisted targeting systems.
Foundation Robotics CEO Sankaet Pathak told TIME that global competition in the field of military robotics is already intensifying.
“A humanoid-soldier arms race is already happening,” Pathak said, pointing to similar technology development underway in Russia and China.
He said that, as with many emerging technologies, widespread deployment depends on early adoption.
“Just like drones, machine guns, or any technology, you first have to get them into the hands of customers,” Pathak said.
Defense analysts note that government procurement programs have increasingly directed funding toward technology startups working on artificial intelligence, robotics, and autonomous systems.
As modern warfare continues to incorporate automated systems, companies developing robotics platforms such as the Phantom MK1 are positioning their technologies for possible future roles in military operations and national security applications.
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