COTS and the Battlefield: The Rise of Off-the-Shelf Military Robotics

Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) robotics have transformed industry—lowering costs, accelerating innovation, and making advanced tools accessible to anyone. But that same accessibility has opened a new frontier in modern conflict. Drones, autonomous vehicles, sensors, and AI modules built for civilian life are now being adapted for battlefield use, reshaping the way nations and non-state actors wag...