FlamingText

The Future of Warfare Pt II

  This is a picture of the Army's new Special Weapons Observation Reconnaissance Detection System, or SWORDS for short (I'm reasonably certain that this is an instance where they started with a cool-sounding acronym and worked their way backwards from there.) It is shown here rolling across the carpeted lobby of the Orlando Marriott, demonstrating its advanced hotel-warfare capabilities for admiring onlookers at the 24th Army Science Conference:

Start from the beginning.

SWORDS: the Prototype Dalek.

"Today we're going to demonstrate some of the advanced urban warfare capabilities of the SWORDS unit, or robo-soldier. The venue we've selected for this demo is the lobby of the Marriott here in Orlando, and we've chosen it for two reasons: First, location. That is to say, we're already here. I'd like to take this opportunity to again thank the staff at the Marriott for hosting the 24th Army Science Conference and for helping to make it an outstanding event all around. In the interest of insuring a positive experience for all the hotel's guests during this conference, the management has asked me to remind participants to please limit smoking and small arms fire to designated areas. There have been some complaints from other hotel guests. Also, heavier ordnance is only authorized for use in the Demo Room during convention hours, as clearly stated in the information packet you received on check-in, under the heading "hotel rules." Please re-consult these if there is any confusion. Remember, you are here representing the U.S. Army. Private contractors and vendors, this goes for you too!"

  Eighteen SWORDS units are to be deployed to Iraq this month, making them the first generation of ground-based semi-autonomous combat robots to find their way onto an actual battlefield. They are arriving there well in advance of the more complex systems under development through the Future Combat Systems initiative, due to their being entirely constructed from pre-existing elements. Consisting of a TALON robot modified with a TRAP (telepresent rapid aiming platform) weapons system, SWORDS has developed as a series of modifications to a highly effective basic design.

"Reason number two for the selection of this location is to highlight the versatility of the SWORDS unit in handling many different types of operations, particularly in challenging urban and residential settings. For the purposes of this demonstration we have selected a combat scenario that closely resembles a situation that actual peacekeeping troops may find themselves facing to illustrate how a robotic combat element might be utilized in the real world."

  The TALON system has been in service since 2000 for use in dangerous or inaccessible locations. Their earliest use on a battlefield was in Bosnia, where they were employed in live grenade disposal, but it was at the former site of the World Trade Center, where they performed the dangerous task of searching through the rubble, that they first gained widespread public attention. They have since been employed with great success in Afghanistan to scout out caves and suspected weapons caches before human soldiers go in, as well as in Iraq where they are regularly employed to check out roadside bombs and to enter areas that might be booby-trapped. All in all they have performed over 20,000 Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) missions, according to their manufacturer the Foster-Miller company.

  Given the undeniable usefulness of such a device in the field it was only a matter of time before somebody mounted a weapon on one. Various schemes were initially tried mounting a rifle on the TALON’s grasping arm, which it uses to perform its explosives-disposal chores. Designers abandoned this approach in favor of a system affixing the gyroscopically-stabilized swiveling weapons platform known as TRAPS to the top of the TALON chassis. The TRAPS platform can support a variety of weapons: M240 or M249 automatic weapons capable of firing upwards of 700 rounds a minute, M16 assault rifles, M2 .50 caliber machine guns, six round 40mm grenade launchers or the M202 four-round rocket launcher. Accuracy with these weapons is far beyond human norms.

"In this scenario, members of a subversive group known as the "Aladdin Shrine Temple" (subsequently referred to as "Shriners",) have seized control of an urban hotel environment and are engaged in disruptive and/or terrorist activities in that environment. They are equipped with small vehicles, which give them heightened mobility (slide #1.) The nature of the structure precludes use of traditional manned armored assault vehicles, which would be likely to incur unacceptable levels of collateral damage . Civilian presence in the combat area necessitates a scaled-back use of force. Application of air support or heavy artillery fire is therefore also contraindicated. The Shriner force is believed to be monitoring all points of entry into the main lobby area (slide #2). The Shriners are unwilling to negotiate with authorities and at least some of their members are believed to be intoxicated (slide #3.)"

  The Operator of the system controls the SWORDS from a distance of up to 1,800 m (up to 10 k with an optical-fiber connection) using a joystick attached to a laptop computer. Onboard sensors relay real-time video and audio to the operator, and sensor arrays can accommodate standard color video as well as night vision. Future versions may employ thermal sensors. Transmission ranges are typically shorter in urban settings.

"Members of the renegade sect can be distinguished from civilians by their use of the aforementioned single-occupancy vehicles as well as their traditional Muslim headwear (slide #4.) Because of the possibility that the "fez" may be dislodged with the commencement of combat operations, it is imperative that target acquisition be accomplished in the initial sweep. "

  Urban setting? Yes, that’s right. One of the most promising applications for the SWORDS is in the field of urban counter-insurgency operations like those undertaken in cities like Fallujah, Mosul and other hot-spots. The Army hopes that SWORDS can be used to enter areas where insurgents may be preparing an ambush before troops are sent in. The units are not impervious to small arms fire, but they are a good bit tougher than flesh-and-blood soldiers, and are ultimately considered expendable (unlike, presumably, human soldiers.) Also, repairable. The unarmed version has already seen some use in this regard, particularly, as noted above, for EOD and IOD (Improvised Explosive Device) disposal. Roadside bombs are one of the favored tactics of Iraqi insurgents, and several TALONS have already been destroyed or severely damaged by explosive devices that in previous years would have been handled by human bomb squads.

  The relatively small, maneuverable SWORDS holds great promise for this kind of brutal, block-by-block urban warfare. It can negotiate a variety of difficult terrains and even climb stairs. On-board sensors can locate the source of enemy fire based on triangulation of shot reports and muzzle flash. Designers are currently working on a safety feature that would lock the weaponry on a selected target while the unit is moving to prevent friendly fire accidents. The targeting is currently much less accurate when the unit is in motion.

“Assuming a position of partial cover at the top of the ramp, SWORDS then lays down suppressing fire from its swivel-mounted M240...”

In its present configuration, the M202 supports Flame- (incendiary) and HEAT- (High Explosive Anti-Tank) LAW (Light Anti-tank Weapon) which can be ripple-fired in rapid succession or fired individually in combination. Future versions may use Javelin anti-tank missiles, as well as sporting a wider array of sensors and electronic countermeasures.

“The ruggedized treads(slide #7) of the SWORDS are designed for a variety of terrains. They are equally at home on sand, rock, potholed country roads or blood-soaked hotel carpeting.”

With the updated controller, one operator is able to control fire on up to five platforms simultaneously.

"The Shriners are disoriented, their ranks broken and their visibility severely impaired by the smoke grenades...”

Battery life is from 10 to 12 hours of continuous operation depending on terrain.

“...the remaining Shriners not neutralized in the initial assault break ranks, fleeing for various exits, both on foot and in their single-occupancy vehicles. "

256-bit signal encryption prevents enemies from hacking into the operating system and using it against friendly troops.

“The SWORDS unit is sent ahead to search in the areas around the rear exits and the hotel's lounge to insure that any stragglers are accounted for. At this time, the commandos receive the go-ahead to pry open the elevator doors and commence damage assessment operations and a search for survivors. The entire engagement has taken less than 1 minute 30 seconds, and at no time were any human resources placed in the line-of-fire. This concludes our demonstration."

Say hello to SWORDS, the new face of American Military Power!

NOTE:
This blog has adopted the convention of using alternate typefaces to signify other "voices," which in this instance means fictional voices. To my knowledge the 24th Army Science Conference never featured any demonstrations of how robot soldiers might be used against Shriners, hypothetical or otherwise. Nor is any disrespect intended to members of the Aladdin Shrine. It is a fine organization involved in much laudable charity work. Plus, they have a circus!

Next:The Logic of War

Posted by flamingbanjo at April 24, 2005 01:39 PM