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COVER STORY
As Tyndall Air Force Base rebuilds into the Installation of the Future, they aren’t just bringing in new buildings and infrastructure technologies. Tyndall is one of the first Air Force bases to bring semi-autonomous robot dogs to their Security Forces team. Over the last year, the 325th Security Forces Squadron has been working to develop a “Virtual Security Operations Center” in partnership with Immersive Wisdom and Ghost Robotics.
The “dogs” may walk on four legs and resemble just that but they are not intended to replace the military working dog. Maj. Jordan Criss, 325th Security Forces Squadron Commander says, “We are very excited. We are the first unit within the Department of Defense to use this technology for enhanced security patrolling operations”. While assisting with the patrolling operations and allowing Tyndall’s defenders to focus their attention on efforts requiring a physical presence, this also allows defenders the opportunity to focus on training and the base’s overall situational awareness.
The computerized canines will be used as a “force multiplier for enhanced situational awareness” says Criss. The guard dogs can be used as a way for personnel to patrol areas that may be deemed undesirable for humans and vehicles. They are given a patrol path that is set and monitored by a noncommissioned officer (NCO) in charge of the Security Forces Electronic Security Sensor System.
“We will be able to drive them via (Immersive Wisdom in) a virtual-reality headset within our Base Defense Operations Center,” Criss said. “We will be able to see exactly what the robot dog is detecting through its mobile camera and sensor platform if de-
BY: MELISSA LUPTON, VP OF GOVERNMENTAL & MILITARY AFFAIRS
sired, we will also be able to issue verbal commands to a person or people through a radio attached to the dogs.”
“Immersive Wisdom and Ghost Robotics are proud to deliver this enhanced security capability to the 325th Fighter Wing and all the men and women who live and work on Tyndall Air Force Base,” said Brian Behling, Vice President of Government for Immersive Wisdom. “This combination of technologies – Immersive Wisdom’s Virtual C2 shepherding Ghost Robotics’ semi-autonomous canine units – will revolutionize base defense as we know it.” Current capabilities of certain static defense equipment could potentially be replaced by this new technology brought by the guard dogs, especially those in relation to post disaster and deployment environments. This makes Tyndall Air Force Base, Installation of the Future, the perfect home for the computerized guard dogs following the destruction from Category 5, Hurricane Michael in 2018.
