Humanoid robots could patrol southern border, CEO pitches

Humanoid robots capable of autonomously navigating rugged terrain and detecting people could eventually join federal agents patrolling the southern border, with one U.S. Sankaet Pathak, founder and CEO of Foundation, spoke with Fox News Digital to discuss the company's development of humanoid robotics and.

A DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital that no formal arrangement is currently in place. Pathak envisions Phantom conducting reconnaissance and surveillance in terrain that can be difficult for humans, vehicles, aerial drones or fixed cameras to navigate.

What Happened

Pathak said existing automated solutions struggle with tasks ranging from logistics to navigating complex terrain, adding that he thinks "humanoids will fill that gap quite well." Pathak said Phantom can distinguish humans from other obstacles, autonomously traverse uneven terrain and map its.

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• He stressed, however, that the machines are not envisioned making enforcement decisions independently in the near future.

Key Details

While Foundation's immediate vision centers on surveillance and reconnaissance, Pathak said the company would be willing to arm robots for border operations if requested by the federal government.

• Pathak said weather resistance remains one of the principal limitations of the current Phantom, but a second-generation model expected in the coming months is designed to be waterproof, dustproof and substantially more rugged for.

• He said robots could flag significant activity and allow human officers to respond when intervention is necessary.

• Pathak also pointed to tunnels along the border as another potential application for the technology, saying Foundation would explore underground operations as part of its use cases.

Why It Matters

The company's goal is for robots to conduct those reconnaissance functions autonomously before flagging potential border crossings for human officers.

What Reports Say

Coverage of the story so far points to:

• Continued reporting by Fox News as more details emerge