Ukraine's secret weapon: Drones and robo-dogs turn the tide

Ukrainians are coping as best as they can against the numerically superior Russians. One of their methods is using small reconnaissance drones or robo-dogs. We explain how they are used and present the performance of this model.

The Ukrainians largely rely on drones to compensate for the lack of modern equipment, which is mainly directed to elite units like "Kraken." These units, for example, have received microdrones like the "Black Hornet", allowing them to scout nearby terrain, which is a huge help during urban combat.

Meanwhile, soldiers from other units, such as the 28th Independent Mechanized Brigade, use Unitree Go2 robo-dogs from China for similar purposes.

Unitree Go2 robo-dogs, available on Chinese sales platforms for around $3,000, are very popular bases for various experiments. Russians, for instance, have experimented with arming these robots with AK family rifles or even anti-tank grenade launchers during the Armija-2022 fair. Another interesting invention based on this robo-dog is the Thermonator flamethrower from the USA.

It's not surprising that since Unitree Go2 robots are available for sale, they are also in the hands of Ukrainian soldiers. The robo-dog has a major advantage over classic DJI Mavic-type drones, as it is virtually silent. This allows, for example, the covert checking of enemy positions to find a favorable attack direction.

Structurally, the Unitree Go2 robo-dog weighs 33 lbs, which is not lightweight, and it likely requires an additional battery since the standard one with a capacity of 8000 mAh allows for a maximum of 2 hours of operation. The heart of the robo-dog is an unspecified octa-core processor, and its situational awareness is enhanced by a high-resolution daytime camera and a lidar with a measurement accuracy of 0.2 inches, allowing it to move over uneven terrain.