Ukraine upgrades ground robots to send voice messages
Photo: speaker mounted on an unmanned ground vehicle (DevDroid)
DevDroid has upgraded its universal Droid Box control system, adding two-way audio communication and an autonomous movement feature for areas with no signal, according to DevDroid.
Sound as a control tool
Droid Box now supports remote control of a speaker mounted on an unmanned ground vehicle. Using a tablet, the operator can send voice messages in real time or play preloaded audio files.
The feature can be used to deliver messages and communicate with nearby units if primary communication channels are unavailable.
At the same time, the system provides two-way audio: microphones built into the robotic system's cameras transmit sound directly to the operator's tablet. This allows operators not only to see camera footage but also hear what is happening around the system, including nearby people or vehicles, changes in engine operation, and other details that may be outside the cameras' field of view.
Speakers are already being installed on DevDroid's own platforms, and a new batch of Zmiy Droid 12.7 unmanned ground vehicles, developed jointly with RoverTech, will soon be equipped with them.
Movement without a signal: a step toward autonomy
The second major update is the ability to automatically navigate areas where the connection is temporarily unavailable or unstable. The operator sets a route in advance, after which the droid autonomously crosses the designated area — for example, moving through a forest, tunnel, or under a bridge — and returns control to the operator once the signal is restored.
Developers note that this allows the platform to stay mobile over challenging terrain and with unstable connectivity, while also reducing the risk of the robotic system stalling during a mission.
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that DevDroid had unveiled the new Droid TW 40 reconnaissance and strike robot, which combines a six-wheeled platform with a Wolly 40 combat module and an Mk 19 automatic grenade launcher. The system has already been codified for use by Ukraine's Defense Forces.
