Imagine If

I've ranted about robotic soldiers before.  Well, here we go again, one last time.

The Digital Remote Operated Combat Avatar (DROCA) is something I've made up, but that's not to say it is completely imaginary. Thanks to Sketchup (a free 3d modeling program from Google), here is what I think a DROCA might look like.

The most important part of the system is the Operator Console.  The Predator UAV is piloted by an operator at a console with an abbreviated set of flight controls.  While complicated looking (see image below), it quite resembles consoles I worked with in 1977.  Operating a DROCA in street fighting would require something a bit beefier - something that would make all gamers drool.  This is how I imagine the DROCA's operator cockpit might look.

Agility is paramount.  Unlike the Predator UAV, our soldier robots must negotiate complex and constricted spaces.  Most vehicles can't move in a fashion humans find simple and essential:  sideways.  Tracks and wheels are good, but not that good.  On my DROCA I've used omnidirectional wheels.  Below are videos that shows how this technology will allow the DROCA needed agility. 

 

Add a gun for combat, a sensor pack for scouting, or a robotic arm for bomb disposal. They could even act as police by changing the paint job and replacing the gun with a Taser.  Note the DROCA isn't made to be indestructable, or even tougher than a human. The idea is it be as light and cheap as possible while replacing a human being in the line of fire.  Detroit could turn them out by the millions, faster than insurgents could dream of building bombs.

One more bonus for the DROCA system?  Disabled soldiers could be retrained and retasked into operators.  Instead of being medically discharged, disabled soldiers who still wanted to serve could bring their expertise and pride back to the battlefield.