Photo: Screen grab from Hsiao Bi-khim’s Facebook pageGlobally, many defense manufacturers have developed robot dogs that can be purchased off the shelf, they said. Using robot dogs would help solve a shortage of troops to guard the nation’s infrastructure, they said. Last month, a government official said the military’s interest in robot dogs in part stemmed from the military’s strategic shift toward focusing on combat operations in towns and cities. Robot dogs can conduct reconnaissance and battle damage assessment missions in areas too dangerous or restrictive for infantry or uncrewed aerial vehicles to operate, such as tunnels and ruins, he said. The military expects to arm at least some of the robot dogs with machine guns and light anti-armor rockets to take part in combat, the official said.

Source: Taipei Times March 20, 2026 16:24 UTC