American startup Foundation has presented the capabilities of its “Phantom MK1” humanoid robots to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for potential use along the country’s southern border. This was disclosed to Fox News by the company’s CEO, Sankaet Pathak. According to Pathak, Foundation is already in discussions regarding potential collaboration with several U.S. government entities, including the Air Force, the Navy, the Army, and the DHS.
Pathak stated that the Phantom MK1 is designed to navigate rugged terrain where the use of vehicles, drones, or stationary cameras might be difficult. He identified potential tasks such as monitoring remote sections of the border, inspecting tunnels, and detecting migrants crossing the border. The Foundation CEO noted that the company is prepared to launch a limited pilot project almost immediately, with the expectation of scaling up to a larger deployment within a few months should the program expand.
“If drones and guard towers could solve everything, why do we still have people at the border?” Pathak asked.
Meanwhile, the DHS has confirmed that no formal agreement with Foundation currently exists. A department spokesperson told Fox News: “At this time, the Department of Homeland Security does not have any non-contractual agreements, pilot projects, or active prime contracts with Foundation.” Consequently, the situation remains at the stage of proposals and negotiations, rather than an active project to deploy humanoid robots at the border.
The possibility of a partnership between Foundation and the DHS was also mentioned previously by the company’s co-founder, Mike LeBlanc. In early March, he told TIME magazine that the startup was in “very close contact” with the Department of Homeland Security regarding the potential use of these robots to patrol the southern border. Foundation is already an approved military supplier, holding government research contracts with the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force totaling $24 million.
The company is also expanding its military-focused operations outside the United States. Foundation previously sent two Phantom MK1 robots to Ukraine for testing, and in July, Ukrainian media reported that the Ukrainian military planned to launch a grant competition for the development of humanoid robots for military use. Furthermore, the Phantom MK1 has already participated in live-fire exercises in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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