Alex: This is the humanoid robot chosen by the US military for dangerous missions

The US military chose 'Alex', a humanoid robot ballistic protection, among the five winners of the xTechHumanoid competition. The aim was to explore how such machines could limit soldiers' exposure to dangerous missions.

Behind Alex is the Florida Institute of Human and Mechanical Cognition (IHMC), a nonprofit research center specializing in the development of advanced robotic systems. The robot has integrated systems for processing, perception and energy supply and is designed to be able to move both outdoors and inside buildings.

Its 29 joints aim to ensure the required mobility for rough environments, such as stairs, uneven floors and debris spots. For its movement it uses specially designed semi-direct transmission actuators, which, according to the IHMC, allow more natural and energy-efficient movements.

The US military also places particular emphasis on Alex's ballistic protection, as well as its hybrid autonomy system, which combines artificial intelligence with human control to execute complex and dangerous shipments.

Contest schedule

The selection of Alex is part of the Army FUZE xTech program, through which prize money competitions are organized, with the aim of identifying commercial technologies that could acquire military applications. The program also seeks to accelerate their development by bringing companies and researchers together with military experts and paving the way for potential future contracts.

The xTechHumanoid competition gathered a total of 103 proposals, of which five winners were selected on September 11, after demonstrations before military officials and experts. Apart from integrated humanoid robots, the competition also accepted individual technological solutions. Thus, two power supply systems, touch sensors for fingers and software are also included among the award-winning proposals.

“Humanoid robots are part of a broader effort to enhance the autonomy and increase the variety and capabilities of robotic platforms and components that the industry can offer to different missions, ”said Dr. Alex Miller, the U.S. Army's Director of Technology. “xTech is our method of looking at the industrial landscape and accelerating the development of promising technologies, rather than staying trapped in studies that take years.”

The growing US interest in humanoid robots with military applications coincides with similar efforts that have been ongoing for years in China. A recent Reuters survey, based on more than a hundred documents, said Beijing is systematically considering the possible future use of such systems in warfare.