Watch: What’s Under the Rock?

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The operation of various surveillance devices on the battlefield may be detected by adversaries. A new robot disguised as a stone has been developed by Russian Air Force Academy cadets for use in military surveillance.

The camouflaged surveillance device is seen in the video below navigated grassy terrain using caterpillar wheels. A mini-camera mounted on top of the device was also displayed in the footage.

The robot has a passive battery life that allows it to collect, process, and transmit information for 15 hours, according to the Defense Ministry’s Zvezda news channel cited by thedefensepost.com. Its operator can be positioned up to two kilometers (1.2 miles) away to operate the “spy rock.” “Due to its disguise and ability to change positions, it can come in handy in trench warfare.” 

The device is activated when its motion sensor is triggered, and it begins recording video and audio of its surroundings, transferring all collected data to army headquarters.