Advanced humanoid robots, designed to traverse difficult terrains and identify individuals autonomously, might soon assist federal agents along the southern border. A US robotics firm has revealed to Fox News Digital that it has showcased this groundbreaking technology to officials from the Department of Homeland Security.
Foundation’s founder and CEO, Sankaet Pathak, shared insights into the company’s pursuit of humanoid robotics and their promising potential for border security, during an interview with Fox News Digital.
Pathak mentioned active discussions with numerous national security agencies regarding these innovative robots.
“We’re engaging in conversations with nearly all branches of national security, including the Air Force, Navy, Army, and DHS,” Pathak detailed. “These discussions are ongoing as we move towards negotiating contracts and exploring various applications for them.”
Despite these advancements, a representative from the DHS informed Fox News Digital that no official agreements have been established at this time.
“The Department of Homeland Security currently does not have any non-contractual agreements, pilots, or active prime contracts with Foundation.”
Pathak envisions Phantom conducting reconnaissance and surveillance in terrain that can be difficult for humans, vehicles, aerial drones or fixed cameras to navigate.
“If drones and watchtowers were able to solve for everything, why do we still have humans at the border?” Pathak told Fox News Digital.
Pathak said existing automated solutions struggle with tasks ranging from logistics to navigating complex terrain, adding that he thinks “humanoids will fill that gap quite well.”
Pathak said Phantom can distinguish humans from other obstacles, autonomously traverse uneven terrain and map its environment. The company’s goal is for robots to conduct those reconnaissance functions autonomously before flagging potential border crossings for human officers.
Pathak also pointed to tunnels along the border as another potential application for the technology, saying Foundation would explore underground operations as part of its use cases.
“Our biggest thing is if we can keep our officers in a safe place, and these robots can continue to surveil 24/7,” Pathak said.
He said robots could flag significant activity and allow human officers to respond when intervention is necessary.
“Tomorrow I think we could do a pilot. Next couple of months, we can do something much larger.”
Pathak said weather resistance remains one of the principal limitations of the current Phantom, but a second-generation model expected in the coming months is designed to be waterproof, dustproof and substantially more rugged for outdoor deployment.
While Foundation’s immediate vision centers on surveillance and reconnaissance, Pathak said the company would be willing to arm robots for border operations if requested by the federal government. He stressed, however, that the machines are not envisioned making enforcement decisions independently in the near future.
“They will detect and then flag and then a human would decide kind of like what the next step it needs to be,” Pathak said.