High Tech Military Training with Animatronics

One mention of the phrase “military robots” and the mind wanders in the direction of unmanned drones like planes and tanks. Or perhaps remote controlled vehicles used for training on a mock battlefield. But would you believe that life-like humanoid robots are being used to train ground troops preparing for a stint in Afghanistan? It's true.

At the newly constructed Infantry Immersion Trainer at Camp Pendleton in Southern California, the Marine Corps recruits are being exposed to life-like training scenarios to prepare them for their tour of duty. The training facility uses a heavy dose of modern technology to simulate what life is like in the typical Afghan village; experience the experts claim is vital for a successful mission.

Today's U.S. soldier may have the best weapons and technology in the world, but he also has a decided disadvantage his predecessors didn't have to worry about: identifying the enemy. The traditional practice of opposite armies dressed in uniforms and meeting on the battle field is a model that doesn't work in Afghanistan. If there's one thing the U.S. military has learned in the Afghan and Iraqi wars it's that your enemy could be anywhere. He could also be anyone.

Soldiers in these remote places could be working a vegetable stand in the city market. They could be hiding in the upper room of the home of a little old lady. They could even be young college students entering a cafe with bombs strapped to their chests. Due to this new form of warfare, soldiers need to learn to see things differently. That's where animatronics and robots come in.

Animatronic humanoids are used to simulate shopkeepers on the streets. They move, talk, carry on daily activities; everything you would expect to see if you were really in an Afghan city. In one simulation there's an elderly lady in a house who interacts with soldiers through artificial intelligence. At one point the humanoid robot becomes clearly agitated and trainees must decide whether to stay or go.

The idea here is to teach the Marines to look at facial expressions, subtle hand movements, the placement of objects, or any other small detail that might signal a potentially dangerous situation. Along with the animatronics, the soldiers are also equipped with electronic vests that deliver an electric shock to simulate being hit. The added special effects of fire, smoke, explosions, and flashing light complete the experience with eerie realism.

Modern urban warfare has given rise to a new method of military training. Animatronic figures fill the void left by static dummies and spring-loaded plates with paper targets. As for the companies being contracted to provide the technology for this training, they are pleased that their art can be used for something greater than mere entertainment.

It may be that what the Imagineers of Disney envisioned with audio-animatronics in the 1960’s, could be the technology that saves countless human lives and helps to end to the war in Afghanistan.