Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force Deploys Robot Dogs To Aid Earthquake Relief Efforts
Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force has published photographs of its quadrupedal “robot dog” unmanned ground vehicles in use during disaster relief efforts in the wake of the January 1 Noto Earthquake.
According to social media posts by the Ground Self-Defense Force, the unmanned ground vehicles are being used to scout evacuation routes for earthquake victims, and to support the relocation of victims to “secondary evacuation centers” outside the area impacted by the earthquake.
“Secondary evacuation centers” have better conditions than the evacuation centers most victims were evacuated to in the immediate aftermath of the January 1 earthquake. Residents of remote villages with damaged utilities, the elderly, disabled individuals and pregnant women are among those prioritized for relocation to secondary evacuation centers.
The unmanned ground vehicles appear to be Ghost Robotics’ Vision 60s. At last year’s edition of the DSEI Tokyo defense exhibition, a Ghost Robotics representative told Janes that the JGSDF intended to purchase 3 of the unmanned ground vehicles, with the JASDF acquiring an additional 3. Delivery of the robots was expected to take place in 2024 following the signing of a final contract.
The JGSDF is part of a joint task force of Self-Defence Force branches working together to deliver humanitarian aid and reestablish transportation links across the Noto Peninsula, after the earthquake severely damaged the peninsula’s road networks, isolating multiple villages and forcing some aid deliveries and evacuations to be conducted on foot.
On January 8, the Japanese defense ministry disclosed that two JGSDF UH-60JA Black Hawks had been deployed as part of the JGSDF’s disaster relief efforts. The Black Hawks’ deliveries of aid are the first operational missions flown by the type since the April 2023 crash of one south of Okinawa killed 10 JGSDF soldiers, including the commander of the 8th Rapid Deployment Division at the time.