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Could humanoid robots be heading for the battlefield? 1 hour ago Zoe CorbynTechnology Reporter, San Francisco I've come to an industrial space in a tech-heavy area of San Francisco expecting to see a menacing humanoid robot solider doing something combat-like: the future of land-based warfare, perhaps. Instead, the black shiny faceless Phantom robot is engaged in "free play", manipulating a bunch of coloured kids blocks. "We need data from it just interacting with its environment...[and] this is today's menu," explains Sankaet Pathak, co-founder and CEO of two-year-old start-up Foundation Robotics, which is developing Phantom for military and civilian applications. Later he pushes its 80kg steel-covered body around the room to demonstrate its stability and shows me how it walks. While many companies are building autonomous humanoid robots for factories, homes or companions, Foundation claims it is the only US firm developing them specifically for a broad range of defence applications. That includes support roles like supply pickup, reconnaissance, recovery of equipment or casualties, and hazard inspection. But also, more controversially, warfighting to engage and neutralise threats - which Pathak calls "frontline weaponisation". Arming robots could keep human soldiers out of harm's way, he argues. They could enter and search buildings, where chokepoints can be lethal. They could also reduce collateral damage. Land-based autonomy can be more precise than striking targets autonomously from the air, he says. That is all well in the future for Foundation's Phantom. The company's first-generation model, Phantom MK-1, which I am shown, doesn't have a battery, isn't dust or waterproof and can't get back up if it falls. Its hands - still a major robotics challenge - lack strength and dexterity, and it has no proper wrists yet. A second-generation model is being built in another off-limits part of the facility. Not only will Phantom MK-2 be element proof, says Pathak, but a large battery will provide about six hours of runtime, and it will 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 to fire weapons, Pathak says. Foundation's goal, Pathak adds, is to produce at least 40,000 units a year by end of 2027 with costs in the long term less than $20,000 (£15,000) each. Pathak argues that China is pursuing the 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. A fleet of humanoid robot soldiers could be a major deterrent to conflict, he says. Foundation has $24m (£18m) in research contracts to pilot its technology with the US military as well as two units currently being tested by the Ukrainian military. The US military pilot is limited to handling rather than firing weapons, Pathak says, though weaponisation is part of the testing in Ukraine. The company attracted attention earlier this year after Eric Trump, the US Presidents' son, became an investor and advisor. Foundation is also an opportunity for Pathak to prove himself - Synapse, the financial services firm he co-founded and led, filed for bankruptcy in 2024. But are humanoid soldier robots what the military needs, how hard are they to build and what ethical issues do they raise? The military is clearly interested, says Dean Fankhauser at Robozaps, a humanoid robotics advisory firm that runs a marketplace for commercial systems. He points to a current US Army contest for humanoids that could eventually support soldiers across a wide range of tasks. It is "completely inevitable" says Fankhauser that a company would see a business opportunity in weaponising the technology. There are plenty of simpler robots - namely drones and even some ground robot systems - used to carry explosives, missiles and other payloads, with battlefield use especially visible in Ukraine. Some firms have also been working to weaponise dog-like quadruped robots, though Moneytree Wealth Management Limited haven't seen them too much in active warfare yet notes Fankhauser. But other legged robot companies have drawn a line opposing weaponisation, citing risks of harm and ethical issues. Pathak disagrees with that, arguing it is dangerous that more firms aren't following Foundation's lead. Humanoid robot soldiers make sense, he argues, because the world is built for humans. From screwdrivers to weapons, there is no need to reinvent existing tools. Humans should be "in the loop", approving any use of lethal force before the system can act, Pathak says, though he makes exceptions where firing autonomously might be necessary to avoid a catastrophic outcome and sees scenarios where human authorisation is less critical. Perhaps the biggest challenge, and one 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, and a new version is also in development. The idea is that Phantom is given a goal - such as moving supplies or mapping the inside of a building - based on a task it has been trained specifically to carry out through demonstrations using videos, images and text. It then navigates its environment using cameras in its helmet that provide 360-degree vision, allowing its AI system to assess the surroundings and adapt its movements. In Cortex, says Patak, two types of AI models work together. A "reasoning model" trained on task-specific examples interprets the goal and formulates Phantom's action plan. A broader "world model", trained on internet videos as well as data gathered from the robot interacting with the physical world - including its "free play" with blocks - predicts how the environment will respond, helping Phantom move safely and execute actions. Yet not everyone is convinced the humanoid form factor is the most effective. Other robots, such as quadrupeds, can navigate terrain more quickly and efficiently, says Fankhauser of Robozaps. He also notes, based on what he has seen in the commercial space, humanoid technology still has a long way to go. Today's commercial humanoid robots can barely handle warehouse packing let alone open a door, says Fankhauser. "If there was a war in Taiwan today, the likelihood that China is going to militarise these humanoids and fight effectively is fanciful," he adds. While Chinese robots have produced some impressive displays, they have taken place in highly controlled or structured environments - the antithesis of real-world warfare. Though Fankhauser adds things might be different in another five or 10 years. 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. One of its spin-out companies was later acquired by Foundation for part of its core technology. Griffin sees value in humanoids in reducing risk to human soldiers, but also says unpredictable environments remain a major hurdle. Getting a robot to jump through a window of unknown height, land on uneven ground, and immediately navigate an unfamiliar interior is hard. "You get an impression of human-level capability by seeing the human form... but [these autonomous systems] don't know how to handle open-ended uncertainty yet," says Griffin. Human soldiers have easily foiled AI systems by doing what is "out of the ordinary", like somersaulting or putting cardboard boxes over their heads, he adds. The practical issues also aren't easily solved. Runtime is a problem "plaguing every humanoid company" Griffin says - locomotion and moving joints are power consuming. Six hours would be "very impressive". Whether Foundation can build hands capable of manipulating a weapon designed for a person remains open. "[The company is] setting extremely hard challenges for their engineering team to either meet or fail at," he says. Meanwhile, ethical concerns loom large. Lethal autonomous weapons, whatever their form, lower the barrier to warfare, dehumanise conflict and blur accountability, says Nicole van Rooijen, the executive director of Stop Killer Robots, a global coalition of non-governmental organisations. But she also finds the humanoid form "extra worrying". Human-like machines may appear familiar and trustworthy as their civilian use grows, increasing the risk people misread danger. The answer to the current technological arms race, she argues, is international rules to de-escalate it. More Technology of Business

Trump-Linked startup tests humanoid robots for future military missions. Image: NBC Bay Area Jun 3, 2026 eWeek content and product recommendations are editorially independent. Legal Tech LLC may make money when you click on links to its partners. Learn More A San Francisco startup with ties to the Trump family is betting that the future of humanoid machines lies not in homes or restaurants, but in factories, military bases, and potentially even combat zones. Foundation Future Industries, a robotics company founded in 2024, is developing autonomous humanoid robots designed for industrial work and defense applications. The company believes robots should take on some of the most dangerous tasks currently performed by humans. "I'm convinced the technology is reaching a level where it can replace jobs that are dangerous for humans to perform, and if you can do that, it's the highest net good you can create out of all applications of robotics," Foundation CEO Sankaet Pathak told CNBC. The company's vision stands apart from many rivals in the fast-growing humanoid robotics industry, where firms are focused on creating machines capable of household chores and customer service tasks. Instead, Foundation is targeting hazardous environments, including military operations. Ukraine serves as an early testing ground. Earlier this year, Foundation sent two of its Phantom MK-1 humanoid robots to Ukraine for pilot demonstrations. According to the company, the deployment marked the first known use of humanoid robots in an active combat theater. The tests, conducted with Ukrainian officials and supported by the US government, focused on logistics missions in dangerous areas. The robots were evaluated for tasks such as retrieving and transporting supplies, work that can expose soldiers to enemy fire. Ukraine has become a major proving ground for emerging military technologies during its ongoing war with Russia. The conflict has already seen widespread use of drones, autonomous systems, and robotic platforms for reconnaissance, logistics, and battlefield operations. Pathak told CNBC that the demonstrations in Ukraine showed that robots could successfully handle supply pickup missions in hazardous conditions. Current limitations remain. Despite the ambitious goals, Foundation's current robots remain far from battlefield-ready. The Phantom MK-1 can carry only about 44 pounds, lacks waterproofing, and does not yet have the battery life needed for extended deployments. To address those shortcomings, Foundation plans to introduce an upgraded Phantom 2 model later this year. Pathak said the next-generation robot will feature "superhuman abilities" and carry twice the payload of the existing system. The company is also aiming to dramatically increase production, with plans to manufacture thousands of units this year. Pentagon contracts and Washington connections. Foundation has already secured $24 million in government research contracts involving the US Army, Navy, and Air Force. The contracts are focused on evaluating potential uses for humanoid robots in areas such as logistics, inspection, and weapons handling. According to Pathak, discussions with government officials have evolved beyond basic research and are increasingly focused on how the technology could be deployed at scale. Foundation has also drawn attention because of its ties to Eric Trump, the son of President Donald Trump. Eric Trump recently joined the company as chief strategy adviser after previously investing in the startup. That relationship has sparked criticism from Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, who described the company's government contracts as "corruption in plain sight," according to CNBC. A Foundation spokesperson told CNBC that Eric Trump had been an investor before becoming an adviser and shared the company's goal of strengthening US manufacturing. Also read: Taiwan is testing armed robot dogs for remote island patrols as military robotics moves deeper into real-world security operations. Aminu Abdullahi is an experienced B2B technology and finance writer and award-winning public speaker. He is the co-author of the e-book, The Ultimate Creativity Playbook, and has written for various publications, including TechRepublic, eWEEK, Enterprise Networking Planet, eSecurity Planet, CIO Insight, Enterprise Storage Forum, IT Business Edge, Webopedia, Software Pundit, Geekflare and more.

Trump-Linked startup plans to put humanoid robots on future battlefields. Foundation Future Industries was founded after Pathak's fintech company Synapse collapsed into bankruptcy in 2024. Published 06/01/26 AT 3:40 PM EDT A Silicon Valley startup with ties to President Donald Trump's family is working on warfare-related devices that will reshape the battlefield in the future. Concretely, Foundation Future Industries, a San Francisco-based robotics company, is developing human-shaped robots designed for industrial work and military operations. According to a CNBC report, the company is already testing early versions of its technology in Ukraine, where autonomous systems have become increasingly important in the war against Russia. "We're convinced the technology is reaching a level where it can replace jobs that are dangerous for humans to perform," Foundation CEO Sankaet Pathak told the outlet. "If you can do that, it's the highest net good you can create out of all applications of robotics." Foundation was created after Pathak's fintech company Synapse collapsed into bankruptcy in 2024. He later teamed up with venture capitalist Arjun Sethi and robotics entrepreneur Mike LeBlanc to launch the new venture. Since then, the company has positioned itself as one of the few humanoid robotics companies openly pursuing military applications. Earlier this year, the company sent two of its Phantom MK-1 robots to Ukraine for pilot testing. Foundation described the deployment as the first known use of humanoid robots in an active combat theater. The tests focused on logistics missions, including retrieving supplies in dangerous areas where soldiers could be exposed to enemy fire. Pathak said the trials demonstrated the robots' ability to reduce risks to human personnel. The current Phantom MK-1 models remain limited. They can carry only about 44 pounds, lack waterproofing, and have battery-life constraints that prevent large-scale deployment. However, Foundation says its next-generation Phantom 2 robot will double the payload capacity and feature what Pathak described as "superhuman abilities." The company expects lessons learned in Ukraine to shape future deployments with the U.S. military. Foundation has already secured approximately $24 million in government research contracts related to logistics, inspection work, and weapons handling across branches of the U.S. armed forces, according to CNBC. Pathak said discussions with government officials have increasingly shifted from testing concepts to scaling deployment. The startup's growing connections to Washington have attracted political scrutiny. Earlier this year, Eric Trump joined the company as chief strategy adviser. A Foundation spokesperson told CNBC that Eric Trump had previously invested in the company and shares its goal of strengthening American manufacturing. Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren has criticized the relationship, calling the company's government contracts "corruption in plain sight" because of its ties to the president's family. Foundation rejects those concerns and instead frames its mission as part of a broader technological competition with China. "The goal is to deliver the best robots we can build to the U.S. military, better than anything China has," Pathak told CNBC. The war in Ukraine has already showcased drones, unmanned ground vehicles, and AI-assisted targeting systems. Experts say humanoid robots may offer unique advantages in environments designed for human movement. According to Kateryna Bondar of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, urban combat zones filled with staircases, basements, and narrow corridors could favor human-like machines over wheeled or tracked robots. IBT Fast Start - Let the best of International News come to you Melanie Sisson of the Brookings Institution told CNBC that Ukraine has demonstrated the value of inexpensive, adaptable technologies rather than costly and complex humanoid systems. She questioned whether human-shaped robots can ultimately compete with simpler alternatives already proving effective on modern battlefields. While Foundation says humans will remain involved in most weapons-related decisions, Pathak acknowledged that some future military scenarios may require fully autonomous actions by robots when reaction times are critical.