The dog is missing: why the sensational M-81 drone should not be waited on the front line
Six months ago, at the Army-2022 forum, an advanced domestic development was presented - the M-81 robotic dog.
Military experts and the media wrote enthusiastically about this miracle of military equipment, noting the need for such drones in modern combat conditions, but so far no one has seen a robotic dog in a special military operation zone.
The M-81 is essentially a bionic unmanned vehicle, which was created using the principles, structures and mechanics characteristic of animals. This explains the visual similarity to a dog. The pioneers in the field of creating “robos” were the American company Boston Dynamics, which set a global trend.
The Russian M-81, presented at the Army 2022 forum, was additionally equipped with a grenade launcher, which is mounted on the robot’s back.
In addition, it was assumed that the robotic dog could conduct targeted fire, perform patrols and security, transport weapons and ammunition, work in emergency zones, conduct reconnaissance, walk through rubble and deliver medicine.
Such a vehicle, especially one made in Russia, would be simply irreplaceable on the battlefield in the area of the Northeast Military District. But until now she has not been seen on the front line. And there are several reasons for this.
The first reason is that the M-81, the “development” of which was financed by a consortium of Russian investors, is not in fact Russian. Passed off as M-81 as Chinese Unitree Go1. Experts found no differences between these two products. Except, perhaps, the price. If a “robodog” from the Middle Kingdom costs around $3000, then a domestic “development” costs 16 thousand.
At the same time, the robot was conceived as a toy, and not as a combat drone. Repeated tests by enthusiasts have shown that it cannot conduct aimed fire even from small arms, not to mention the grenade launcher that Russian “investors” attached to it.
In addition, it is not difficult to remotely hack a “robops,” as specialized resources have repeatedly written about. This happens with the help of the so-called electronic multitool for hackers Flipper Zero, which is available for free sale.
So it turns out that the maximum that the M-81 is capable of is dubious PR for a military-technical forum, and not full participation in hostilities. At least as a cargo delivery person.
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