Humanoid Robots: The Future of Warfare is Here?

From Playtime to War: A Robot's Journey

I visited an industrial space in San Francisco expecting to see a menacing humanoid robot soldier doing something combat-like — the future of land-based warfare, perhaps.

"We need data from it just interacting with its environment…[and] this is today's menu," explains Sankaet Pathak, co-founder and CEO of Foundation Robotics.

Instead, the black shiny faceless Phantom robot was engaged in 'free play', manipulating a bunch of colored kids blocks. The scene was more domestic than dystopian, which makes you wonder how far we are from deploying these machines in real combat zones.

The Vision: A New Kind of Military Force

Foundation Robotics is developing the Phantom for both military and civilian applications. While many companies build autonomous humanoid robots for factories or homes, Foundation claims it's the only U.S. firm developing them specifically for a broad range of defense uses.

This includes support roles like supply pickup, reconnaissance, recovery of equipment or casualties, and hazard inspection. But also more controversially, warfighting to engage and neutralize threats — which Pathak calls 'frontline weaponization'.

Advantages in the Battlefield

Pathak argues that arming robots could keep human soldiers out of harm's way. They could enter and search buildings where chokepoints can be lethal, reducing the risk to life.

Additionally, land-based autonomy might be more precise than striking targets autonomously from the air, potentially reducing collateral damage. That's all well in the future for Foundation's Phantom.

Technical Hurdles

The company's first-generation model, Phantom MK-1, lacks several key features needed for combat deployment — no battery, not dust or waterproof, and can't get back up if it falls. Its hands are still a major robotics challenge, lacking strength and dexterity.

However, a second-generation model is under construction. It will be element-proof, feature a large battery providing about six hours of runtime, and be able to recover if it falls and withstand more force. Better hands are crucial — the robot's next set will move in far more ways, with wrists that help it fire weapons.

Scaling Production

Foundation's goal is to produce at least 40,000 units a year by the end of 2027 with costs in the long term less than $20,000 each. That ambition reflects not only technological advancement but also market demand.

Global Competition

Pathak believes China is pursuing this technology and the West needs to keep up. He envisions hundreds of thousands of AI-driven humanoid robots forming a ground force, matching the growing use of autonomous drones in the skies.

The company has $24 million in research contracts to pilot its technology with the U.S. military as well as two units currently being tested by the Ukrainian military. The U.S. military pilot is limited to handling rather than firing weapons, although weaponization is part of the testing in Ukraine.

Investment and Redemption

Foundation attracted attention earlier this year after Eric Trump, the U.S. President's son, became an investor and advisor. For Pathak, it's also a chance to prove himself — Synapse, the financial services firm he co-founded and led, filed for bankruptcy in 2024.

What the Experts Say

The military is clearly interested, says Dean Fankhauser at Robozaps, a humanoid robotics advisory firm. He points to a current U.S. Army contest for humanoids that could eventually support soldiers across a wide range of tasks.

He believes it's "completely inevitable" that a company would see a business opportunity in weaponizing the technology. But he also notes that there are simpler robots — drones and ground robot systems — already used to carry explosives, missiles, and other payloads, especially visible in Ukraine.

Alternatives and Ethics

Some firms have also been working to weaponize dog-like quadruped robots, although we haven't seen them too much in active warfare yet. Other legged robot companies have drawn a line opposing weaponization, citing risks of harm and ethical issues.

Pathak disagrees with that stance, arguing it is dangerous that more firms aren't following Foundation's lead. He believes humanoid robot soldiers make sense because the world is built for humans — from screwdrivers to weapons, there's no need to reinvent existing tools.

The AI Challenge

Perhaps the biggest challenge faced by all companies building humanoid robots is developing artificial intelligence that can operate in the real world and cope with unpredictable and complicated situations. Phantom is directed by an AI system called Cortex, which includes a reasoning model trained on task-specific examples and a broader 'world model' trained on internet videos and data gathered from the robot interacting with the physical world.

Human Oversight

Pathak insists humans should be 'in the loop,' approving any use of lethal force before the system can act. He makes exceptions where firing autonomously might be necessary to avoid a catastrophic outcome and sees scenarios where human authorization is less critical.

The Bottom Line

While the concept is fascinating, not everyone is convinced the humanoid form factor is the most effective. Other robots, such as quadrupeds, can navigate terrain more quickly and efficiently, according to Fankhauser of Robozaps.

Robert Griffin works on humanoid robots at the non-profit Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, whose activities include military-funded humanoid projects focused on non-combat applications. Griffin sees value in humanoids in reducing risk to human soldiers but acknowledges unpredictable environments remain a major hurdle.

Final Thoughts

From a technical standpoint, the journey from the lab to the battlefield is long and arduous. But from an ethical standpoint, the conversation has just begun. As we grapple with questions of autonomy, accountability, and humanity in warfare, we are standing at a crossroads. These machines may be the future, but they will only be as responsible as the people who design them.