Chinese military’s rifle-toting robot dogs raise concerns in Congress

Congress is worried that robot dogs with machine guns will be bounding onto the battlefield in the near future.

During last week’s debate over the annual defense authorization bill, House lawmakers inserted language in the massive military policy measure to require a new assessment from the Defense Department on “the threat of rifle-toting robot dogs used by China” in potential future conflicts.

The issue has gained public attention in recent weeks after Chinese military officials showed off armed robotic quadrupeds during recent military drills with Cambodia.

In a video released by state-run CCTV on May 25, a 110-pound dog-like robot is shown carrying and firing an automatic rifle. A spokesman for the Chinese military said the robot, which can perform many tasks autonomously, could “serve as a new member in our urban combat operations.”

Drone warfare is not new to the U.S. or foreign militaries, and the American military for years has experimented with robot dogs for use in reconnaissance and unit support roles.

But the idea of a robot version of man’s best friend shooting at American soldiers was enough to prompt House members to demand that the secretary of defense investigate “the threat such use poses to the national security of the United States.”

The amendment was adopted without objection from any members of the chamber. But it will have to survive negotiations with senators on the broader defense measure in coming months before it can become law.

The Senate is expected to hold floor debate and make possible amendments to its draft of the legislation in the next few weeks.

Leo covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He has covered Washington, D.C. since 2004, focusing on military personnel and veterans policies. His work has earned numerous honors, including a 2009 Polk award, a 2010 National Headliner Award, the IAVA Leadership in Journalism award and the VFW News Media award.

美国国会担心，不久的将来，配备机枪的机器狗将会出现在战场上。

在上周关于年度国防授权法案的辩论中，众议院议员在这项庞大的军事政策措施中加入了一项条款，要求国防部对“中国使用携带步枪的机器狗”在未来潜在冲突中的威胁进行新的评估。

最近几周，中国军方官员在与柬埔寨举行的联合军事演习中展示了武装机器人四足机，这一问题引起了公众的关注。

5月25日，中国中央电视台发布的一段视频显示，一个重达110磅（约50公斤）的犬形机器人扛着一支自动步枪进行射击。中国军方发言人表示，这款机器人能够自主执行多项任务，可以“成为我们城市作战行动的新成员”。

无人机战争对美国或外国军队来说并不新鲜，多年来，美国军方一直在试验使用机器狗进行侦察和部队支援任务。

但机器人版的人类最好的朋友向美国士兵开枪的想法，足以促使众议院议员要求国防部长调查“这种用途对美国国家安全构成的威胁”。

该修正案在众议院全体议员一致通过。但在未来几个月与参议员就更广泛的国防法案进行谈判后，它才能最终成为法律。

预计参议院将在未来几周内举行全体辩论，并可能对该法案草案进行修改。

利奥为《军事时报》报道国会、退伍军人事务部和白宫的新闻。自2004年以来，他一直报道华盛顿特区的新闻，重点关注军人和退伍军人政策。他的作品荣获多项荣誉，包括2009年波尔克奖、2010年国家头条新闻奖、国际退伍军人协会新闻领导力奖和美国退伍军人协会新闻媒体奖。