Cheap Ukrainian drones and robots deter Russian ambitions

Ukraine is putting up a brave resistance in the ongoing war against Russia, with the help of NATO and other countries, of course. But the creativity of the masses in developing inexpensive robots for combat and reconnaissance purposes also plays a major role.

Kyiv has officially used several makeshift drones in the past to attack targets deep inside Russia, thereby disrupting the enemy’s war effort.

Necessity is the mother of invention, and in times as desperate as the ongoing war, the Ukrainian masses are leaving no stone unturned to strengthen their own defense capabilities and equip their armed forces with dangerous drones.

To strengthen their war effort, the Ukrainian armed forces are testing the numerous state-of-the-art drones that their own people have built at ridiculously low prices.

Drones played a significant role in the Russia-Ukraine war

The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has seen the use of drones on an unprecedented scale. Both sides have relied on numerous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and ground drones for reconnaissance, surveillance and strike purposes.

Drone warfare has proven to be a decisive factor, with both sides trying to gain the upper hand by customizing drones to achieve desired objectives.

One example is the unmanned ground vehicle called Odyssey, built by a startup in Ukraine. The startup can assemble the Odyssey in just four days. Even more amazingly, it costs just $35,000 – about 10% of the cost of an imported model with similar capabilities.

According to a report by Related PressThe Odyssey is manufactured in a tiny hut owned by entrepreneur Andrii Denysenko under the company’s name. This is a remarkable example of ingenuity, but not the only one.

The report describes the unmanned ground vehicle as a 790-kilogram prototype that looks like a small tank without a turret. It is intended for rescue and logistics missions, but can be equipped with a remote-controlled heavy machine gun or mine-clearing charges if necessary.

Numerous innovations are underway

Denysenko’s company also plans to build a motorized exoskeleton that can enhance a soldier’s abilities.

In the past, an unnamed Ukrainian technology startup reportedly developed a new drone with artificial intelligence (AI) that can detect and attack targets based on visual signals, such as a specific uniform. The drones can act as a swarm and communicate with each other.

The startup claims that this will enable the drones to make quick decisions autonomously. However, to avoid accidents (such as possible friendly fire), the drones can only intervene with the permission of a human observer.

With the war showing no signs of stopping or abating, more such innovations will continue to come from Ukrainian companies operating in basements of buildings or with makeshift arrangements.

In May this year, Ukraine became the first country to have its own Unmanned Systems Forces (USF).

The U.S. military is constantly testing new ways to strengthen Ukraine’s resilience against Russian forces, and these low-cost alternatives manufactured across the country can definitely make their task easier.