The Zaporizhzhia company Temerland has developed a combat robot “Dwarf” for the Armed Forces, it will be able to unobtrusively explore enemy positions and close the soldiers with a machine gun.

The 50-kilogram Gnome combat robot is a mobile all-wheel drive device with a quiet 5 horsepower electric motor. The current version is armed with a 7.62 mm machine gun. A study by the US Army shows that the RDC is a good platform for shooting, allowing the person in control to hit the target with high accuracy.

While most RDCs work on radio controls, Gnome has a long fiber optic cable. Eduard Trotsenko, CEO and owner of Temerland, said this strong and durable cable provides a broadband connection that is not susceptible to radio interference.

The robot can be controlled in an aggressive environment and during the operation of hostile electronics,” says Trotsenko. Since the operator does not use radio communications while operating, it cannot be detected and fired with artillery, as is sometimes the case with drone operators.

“The operator does not need an antenna and nothing reveals its position, – says Trotsenko. – The cable is invisible and nothing in the work generates thermal radiation, so it is invisible in the thermal camera“.

Fiber was also used for guided missiles in the early 2000s: for example, the French Polyphem, the American EFOG-M, and Darpa’s kamikaze reconnaissance aircraft that later inspired the Switchblade.

This cable is also used in some drones and remote-controlled submarines, but the electronic warfare we’re seeing in Ukraine could increase the demand for fiber optic control for drones.

The length of the cable is 2000 meters; If it breaks down, the machine will automatically return to a specific position. Although Gnome is usually remotely controlled, it has built-in navigation.

The developments at Temerland use an advanced neural network, machine learning and a program for autonomous control, so the company is not new to this.

Trotsenko says that the machine gun allows the Dwarf to defend himself, and can also provide fire support in situations where it could be dangerous to humans. He states that other versions of Gnome can be used for logistics, intelligence gathering, and engineering needs.