The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is exploring the use of humanoid robots for surveillance and security along the country’s southern border, as the Trump administration considers expanding the use of autonomous technology for border enforcement.
DHS officials have attended at least one presentation by Foundation, a humanoid robotics company whose founder and CEO Sankaet Pathak has positioned the company as a developer of robots for military and security applications.
Foundation’s humanoid robots are still at an early stage of development, with the technology facing challenges including limited battery life, dexterity and mobility.
Pathak said Foundation was in discussions with several U.S. national security agencies and was negotiating potential contracts.
“We’re in conversations with almost all national security government bodies, so Air Force, Navy, Army, DHS,” he told Fox News. “We continue to have dialogues. We’re starting to negotiate contracts and some applications for them.”
A DHS spokesperson, however, said the agency does not currently have a formal relationship with Foundation.
The agency “currently does not have any non-contractual agreements, pilots, or active prime contracts with Foundation.”
Pathak has said the company could deploy humanoid robots in areas between existing surveillance infrastructure, including drones and watchtowers, potentially reducing the need for human personnel.
“If drones and watchtowers were able to solve for everything, why do we still have humans at the border?” he remarked.
Foundation has also developed robots for military applications. Earlier this year, the company said two of its Phantom Mk-I humanoid robots had been deployed in Ukraine, where they were used for reconnaissance-related activities, according to the report.
The potential use of humanoid robots at the southern border would build on the Trump administration’s broader push to expand technology-based surveillance. Border security agencies have previously deployed systems including AI-enabled camera towers and robotic vehicles.
It remains unclear whether DHS intends to conduct a pilot program with Foundation or pursue a procurement contract. Foundation, which is backed by Eric Trump, is seeking a valuation of about $3 billion, according to the report.
The company is among a growing number of startups developing humanoid robots for industrial, security and military applications, although the technology remains largely experimental and has yet to achieve widespread deployment in complex outdoor environments.
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Faustine Ngila is the AI Editor at Impact Newswire, based in Nairobi, Kenya. He is an award-winning journalist specializing in artificial intelligence, blockchain, and emerging technologies.
He previously worked as a global technology reporter at Quartz in New York and Digital Frontier in London, where he covered innovation, startups, and the global digital economy.
With years of experience reporting on cutting-edge technologies, Faustine focuses on AI developments, industry trends, and the impact of technology on society.
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