Humanoid robots, designed to independently navigate challenging terrains and identify individuals, might soon assist federal agents at the southern border. A US robotics firm has reportedly shown this technology to Department of Homeland Security officials, according to Fox News Digital.
Sankaet Pathak, the founder and CEO of Foundation, shared insights with Fox News Digital about the company’s advancements in humanoid robotics and their possible future roles at the border.
Pathak mentioned ongoing discussions with multiple national security bodies.
“We’re in conversations with almost all national security government bodies, so Air Force, Navy, Army, DHS,” Pathak stated. “We continue to have dialogues. We’re starting to negotiate contracts and some applications for them.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security confirmed to Fox News Digital that no official agreement exists currently.
“The Department of Homeland Security currently does not have any non-contractual agreements, pilots, or active prime contracts with Foundation.”
Pathak sees the Phantom robot being used for reconnaissance and surveillance in areas that are tough for humans, vehicles, aerial drones, or stationary cameras to cover.
“If drones and watchtowers were able to solve for everything, why do we still have humans at the border?” Pathak questioned during the interview with Fox News Digital.
He noted that current automated solutions face challenges with tasks like logistics and navigating complex terrains, suggesting that “humanoids will fill that gap quite well.”
According to Pathak, the Phantom robot can identify humans among other obstacles, independently traverse uneven ground, and map its surroundings. The aim is for these robots to autonomously perform reconnaissance tasks and alert human officers to potential border crossings.
Pathak also mentioned the possibility of using this technology for tunnel surveillance at the border, indicating Foundation’s interest in exploring underground operations as a use case.
“Our biggest thing is if we can keep our officers in a safe place, and these robots can continue to surveil 24/7,” he added.
Pathak stated that robots could detect significant activities, enabling human officers to intervene when necessary.
“Tomorrow I think we could do a pilot. Next couple of months, we can do something much larger,” Pathak suggested regarding the timeline for implementation.
He acknowledged that weather resistance is currently one of the main limitations of the Phantom model. However, a second-generation version, expected soon, will be designed to be waterproof, dustproof, and more robust for outdoor use.
While the company’s immediate focus is on surveillance and reconnaissance, Pathak mentioned that Foundation would be open to equipping robots for border operations if the federal government requested it. He emphasized that these robots are not expected to make enforcement decisions autonomously 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 explained.
