{"id":49262,"date":"2026-08-16T21:20:47","date_gmt":"2026-08-16T16:20:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=49262"},"modified":"2026-08-16T21:20:47","modified_gmt":"2026-08-16T16:20:47","slug":"humanoid-robots-pitched-to-dhs-for-southern-border-surveillance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=49262","title":{"rendered":"Humanoid robots pitched to DHS for southern border surveillance"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div id=\"beyondwords-wrapper\" data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"beyondwords-wrapper\">\n<p><span class=\"label-bg\">NEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">Humanoid robots capable of autonomously navigating rugged terrain and detecting people could eventually join federal agents patrolling the southern border, with one U.S. robotics company telling Fox News Digital it has already demonstrated the technology to <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_13825655\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/politics\/executive\/homeland-security\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Department of Homeland Security<\/a> officials.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">Sankaet Pathak, founder and CEO of Foundation, spoke with Fox News Digital to discuss the company&#8217;s development of humanoid robotics and their potential applications at the border.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Pathak said Foundation is in talks with several national security agencies and that negotiations have already begun.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;We&#8217;re in conversations with almost all national security government bodies, so Air Force, Navy, Army, DHS,&#8221; Pathak said. &#8220;We continue to have dialogues. We&#8217;re starting to negotiate contracts and some applications for them.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_13825656\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/media\/palantirs-shyam-sankar-says-every-day-were-making-progress-ai-supercharges-american-workers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>PALANTIR&#8217;S SHYAM SANKAR SAYS \u2018EVERY DAY WE\u2019RE MAKING PROGRESS\u2019 AS AI SUPERCHARGES AMERICAN WORKERS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/343\/192\/Foundation-Photo-1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/686\/384\/Foundation-Photo-1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/672\/378\/Foundation-Photo-1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1344\/756\/Foundation-Photo-1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/931\/523\/Foundation-Photo-1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1862\/1046\/Foundation-Photo-1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/720\/405\/Foundation-Photo-1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1440\/810\/Foundation-Photo-1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1200\/675\/Foundation-Photo-1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Photos of Sankaet Pathak, CEO and Founder of Foundation.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Foundation CEO Sankaet Pathak says the company\u2019s Phantom humanoid robot could patrol rugged terrain and flag potential border crossings for federal agents.<\/span> <span>(Foundation)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">A DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital that no formal arrangement is currently in place.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;The Department of Homeland Security currently does not have any non-contractual agreements, pilots, or active prime contracts with Foundation.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Pathak envisions Phantom conducting reconnaissance and surveillance in terrain that can be difficult for humans, vehicles, <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_13825657\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/tech\/technologies\/drones\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">aerial drones<\/a> or fixed cameras to navigate.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;If drones and watchtowers were able to solve for everything, why do we still have humans at the border?&#8221; Pathak told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Pathak said existing automated solutions struggle with tasks ranging from logistics to navigating complex terrain, adding that he thinks &#8220;humanoids will fill that gap quite well.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Pathak said Phantom can distinguish humans from other obstacles, autonomously traverse uneven terrain and map its environment. The company&#8217;s goal is for robots to conduct those reconnaissance functions autonomously before flagging <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_13825658\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/trump-admin-marks-15-straight-months-zero-border-releases-apprehensions-plunge\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">potential border crossings<\/a> for human officers.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_13825659\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/trump-admin-marks-15-straight-months-zero-border-releases-apprehensions-plunge\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>TRUMP ADMIN MARKS 15 STRAIGHT MONTHS WITH ZERO BORDER RELEASES AS APPREHENSIONS PLUNGE 94%<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/343\/192\/Foundation-Photo-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/686\/384\/Foundation-Photo-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/672\/378\/Foundation-Photo-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1344\/756\/Foundation-Photo-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/931\/523\/Foundation-Photo-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1862\/1046\/Foundation-Photo-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/720\/405\/Foundation-Photo-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1440\/810\/Foundation-Photo-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1200\/675\/Foundation-Photo-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Side view of the Phantom robot.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Foundation says a more rugged version of its Phantom robot is expected in the coming months, with waterproof and dustproof capabilities.<\/span> <span>(Foundation)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Pathak also pointed to <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_13825660\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/us\/mexican-national-sentenced-border-child-smuggling-case-involving-thc-laced-candy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">tunnels along the border<\/a> as another potential application for the technology, saying Foundation would explore underground operations as part of its use cases.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;Our biggest thing is if we can keep our officers in a safe place, and these robots can continue to surveil 24\/7,&#8221; Pathak said.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">He said robots could flag significant activity and allow human officers to respond when intervention is necessary.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;Tomorrow I think we could do a pilot. Next couple of months we can do something much larger.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Pathak said weather resistance remains one of the principal limitations of the current Phantom, but a second-generation model expected in the coming months is designed to be waterproof, dustproof and substantially more rugged for outdoor deployment.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">While Foundation&#8217;s immediate vision centers on surveillance and reconnaissance, Pathak said the company would be willing to arm robots for <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_13825661\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/trump-takes-ice-shutdowns-off-table-signature-key-70b-bill\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">border operations<\/a> if requested by the federal government. He stressed, however, that the machines are not envisioned making enforcement decisions independently in the near future.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_13825662\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/inside-chinas-ai-wolf-pack-drones-built-taiwan-conflict-mind\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>INSIDE CHINA\u2019S AI \u2018WOLF PACK\u2019 DRONES BUILT WITH TAIWAN CONFLICT IN MIND<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/343\/192\/Foundation-Photo-3_001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/686\/384\/Foundation-Photo-3_001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/672\/378\/Foundation-Photo-3_001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1344\/756\/Foundation-Photo-3_001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/931\/523\/Foundation-Photo-3_001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1862\/1046\/Foundation-Photo-3_001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/720\/405\/Foundation-Photo-3_001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1440\/810\/Foundation-Photo-3_001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1200\/675\/Foundation-Photo-3_001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Front and side views of the Phantom robot by Foundation.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Foundation says its Phantom humanoid robot can autonomously navigate uneven terrain, detect people and map its surroundings.<\/span> <span>(Foundation)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a href=\"https:\/\/foxnews.onelink.me\/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&amp;af_dp=foxnewsaf%3A%2F%2F&amp;af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fapps-products\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;They will detect and then flag and then a human would decide kind of like what the next step it needs to be,&#8221; Pathak said.<\/p>\n<p> <!----> <!----> <\/p>\n<div class=\"article-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-bio\">\n<p>Mitch Picasso is a Fox News digital production assistant. You can reach him at @mitch_picasso on Twitter.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Humanoid robots capable of autonomously navigating rugged terrain and detecting people could eventually join federal agents patrolling the southern border, with one U.S. robotics company telling Fox News Digital it has already demonstrated the technology to Department of Homeland Security officials. Sankaet Pathak, founder and CEO of&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":49263,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Foundation-Photo-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-49262","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-political-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49262","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=49262"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49262\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/49263"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=49262"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=49262"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=49262"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}