'Robotic Pack Mule' Built For U.S. Military
A four-legged robot called BigDog can carry more than 88 pounds, and doesn't lose its balance -- even if you KICK IT. It's being developed by Boston Dynamics for the U.S. military. Of course, a real mule can carry twice that much, never falls down and doesn't need its batteries charged. But, hey, this is the Pentagon -- why use a mule when a robot can do half the work at a million times the cost. I want one! Here comes the VIDEO!
10:44 AM * PERMALINK * 50 comments
Comments:
They might want to get rid of that annoying whine... I can just see the enemy listening for that noise and targeting a missle at it...
a mule can't be remotely controlled. and they do need to be recharged, its what us humans call food and water.
Hummers are over 7ft wide. They are useless in tight trails and densely wooded areas; 88 additional pounds can make a world of difference especially when it’s 88 additional pounds of food, water or ammunition. This thing is obviously designed to aid foot patrols, extending their range, and time in theater. If you’ve ever been around a real mule, you will know why they are useless in combat. This thing is genius.
What a waste of money... the Marine infantry routinely carries this much wieght and more when moving from place to place, why waste the cash? The government is bloated
If you kick a mule, it won't lose its balance either, and may even kick you back.
From the picture, it's an obvious prototype or engineering development model. How about waiting for the real product before criticizing its capabilities? By the way, there's a reason for the expression "stubborn as a mule." At least the electronic version won't suddenly decide not to move.
let us see what happens when it reaches an edge..
If you attach laser beams, then I will approve.
What I want to know is... When it does fall over (Obviously something can make it fall over) How does it get back up? =P
In response to JB's comment: The point is to not have the Marine carry so much so that he can cover more ground and not be physically exhausted later when he comes under attack. Ever been backpacking? How much further could you go in a day if your load was cut in half? The bottom line is this though, the person who didn't have to carry around an 80 pound rucksack all day will fight better at the end of the day than the person that did. On other subjects, the sound from the engine does have to be dealt with because it will destroy situational awareness.
That's pretty much the creepiest thing I've ever seen. If I saw one of those coming at me, I would be paralyzed with fear. We may be onto something in that respect...
This reminds me of the multimillion space pen that works upside down.
The Russians used a pencil..
> This reminds me of the multimillion space pen that works upside down. The Russians used a pencil..
You realize that the multimillion dollar pen story is completely false, right?
http://www.snopes.com/business/genius/spacepen.asp
Gotta build the "Empire" from somewhere...
Hell, we already have rudimentary "Star Destroyers" flying around. The B2 Bomber.
George Lucas wants his patent fees: http://www.roger-one.net/pix/Galeries/pix5/part1/empire_strikes_back_wallpaper4.jpg
I wonder how a robot of similar size using whegs would compare to this mule.
With whegs a robot can climb over obstacles taller than itself. The video shows pretty small bots though and this is probably not optimized for the heavy loads.
Totally creepy watching this thing move around. Perhaps there is value in developing something that simply scares the poop out of the enemy. It could scare Osama right out da cave.
Anyone who has humped a rucksack with a full load knows 88 pounds is a lot. I wish I could have had someone to carry my medic pack back in the day. 88 pounds is enough gear to support a squad of men on a force march in terrain too rough for vehicles.
I can't wait til I can have one. :-)
But can it flashdance?
What's with the leggings? To hide the superior tech in th legs?
What a blatant idiodic use of tax payer money.
This is a great start. The next major improvement will likely be varying sized models with surround video and audio pickup and variable armaments. This could become a very impresive remote recon, scout and rapid assault tool, just the sort of stuff I personally like theorizing about.
tom
ttownse3@Gmail.com
www.WatkinsOnline.Com
ID No. 365870
This is a great start. The next major improvement will likely be varying sized models with surround video and audio pickup and variable armaments. This could become a very impresive remote recon, scout and rapid assault tool, just the sort of stuff I personally like theorizing about.
tom
ttownse3@Gmail.com
www.WatkinsOnline.Com
ID No. 365870
If this is the way the government is going to spend my tax dollars then we should all go on welfare and keep em from spending our hard earned tax dollars on stupid @#$% I want a cut, and anyway just start the draft if troops are a problem there are thousands of young punks could us a lesson in reality ha ha ha
Why don't they just mount a .50 cal or a small version of a phalanx gun on this thing and march it through iraq instead of hurting more of our soldiers?
You idiots always seem to amaze me by what stupid crap you can come up with next. If you have that much time and money at your disposal, you might want to design something that can fight. Lord knows were going to need them in the future with the way our government treats our service men and women.
Interesting how it can recover from "kicks." Makes me think when we will have fully created AI that can do our tasks for us. The idea of a real "Matrix" isn't too far off.
The U.S. goverment is/has paid millions of dollars to make and test this dammed thing, yet we still have people who are homless and even more who are without health care. Wow, it really shows what the boys up in D.C. really care about.
I will tell you this, This is a major break through. One thing I would work on is to have it quiter. Needs to be more stealth. The ability to go on any terrian is sweet. Obviously there are some concerns. How long it lasts, Fired on, mind fields, trip wires, How about rivers last is the person controling it what happens if he is shot. So there are some interesting studies still need to be observed. Me personlly i would use the sensors cars have when they are to close to something it tells the computer, built in GPS system to be able to know where it is at all times. I probably could figure a few other things, but Boston Dynamics will figure other things to make it even better. I think it is very useful.
When the technology that is developed at these high prices becomes commonplace, as in the case of computers, calculators etc. everyone benefits. Can you see a new type of conveyance replacing a wheelchair here? I can.
EL Burro !!!
Man....hang some dice from hees tail and a sombrero on hees head!
otherwise chou don't know wheech end is wheech....chou know ?
EL BURRO !
hopefully the goverment will use this to help people instead of strapping bombs on it to blow people up
Thank God that the government is spending our tax money on new technology and not paying a bunch of lazy people's bills. I am more than willing for my money to be used for this instead of forcing me to pay MORE charity than I already do. "Big Dog" the first Battlemech! Where is the autocannon?
Getting ammo up front to the troops in a firefight. This would get the job done, or mount a camera on the front for recon.
It may seem like a good idea in theory, but the reality is that somehow it's going to have to get into enemy territory, and anyone who's ever served in the military knows that if it's not flown in, or trucked in, then it's humped in. Some poor sole is going to have to carry the damn thing in most likely. Then they will have to reasemble it somehow. Then they'll probably forget critical parts that come with the assembly. Or they'll have the wrong battery size. The govt. wont let you just leave it for the enemy to take. So that means that they will have to hump it back out too. So there goes the whole point of saving soldiers from getting tired and being ready to fight...
computers cost a fortune for the military to develop. Now the technology benefits us all. Can you see a wheelchair that can walk upstairs? I can
This is Great!
Would be great mount for Video-Tracer Sniper detection gear, and other systems that help soldiers.
Such would be good for UAV transport/control station platform to!
As for arming the sucker,
Imagine this fast like a cheeta, with claws. Yummy.
This needs to minimize remote control use. It should follow the soldiers on it's own like R2D2.
Sure, the blue and white paint and all the cute sounds, beeps, chirps and songful buzzing might alert an enemy to it's presence.
But heck, it's already ONE HELL OF A DECOY!
Tell me, all them lil bastards you want to shoot wouldn't be distracted by this, just enough long enough...
There's nothing here that a good 4 wheel vehicle can't do today, except perhaps fit through more narrow spaces.
That said, it's clearly a technology that could rapidly improve.
Imagine 500 pounds rather than 88 pounds.
Also, anyone else feel kinda bad for the thing when it's getting kicked?
The thing this robot really needs now is built-in I-tunes capability and satellite internet access. Couple that with a big amp, a couple of speakers, and let it dance the night away while blaring its own music...
"The U.S. goverment is/has paid millions of dollars to make and test this dammed thing, yet we still have people who are homless and even more who are without health care. Wow, it really shows what the boys up in D.C. really care about."
Yup, cuz it's our governments job to put a house over everybody's head, and make sure everyone is healthy. I see nothing wrong with some defense R&D so that you can remain free to whine about a lack of welfare when there's already too many freebies being handed out.
Popular Science also posted an article about it.
its powered by a 2 stroke gas engine thats why its so loud. All you need to do to keep it going is jut keep the gas tank full
They'll have to get rid of the noise from that engine. If I was a soldier on a mission and you handed that thing to me today, I'd pretty much guarantee you that we'll have a friendly fire incident.
I'd rather be carrying the extra 20lb per person than (1) be driven crazy by the sound and (2) having the enemy shoot in my direction just to shut that thing up.
someone put a mule to race with the first steam engine train like two centuries ago. the train was a joke then.
now trains are bullet trains and TGVs, but mules are still mules.
Our government is now spending $3 billion on anti-IED (bomb) technologies alone, up from $44 million the year before. I'm so happy for defense contractors and their oil buddies! They are finally getting to belly up to the greatest pork trough of them all: the U.S. Congress! Hooray for war, the elite, and our weapons procurement system (A.K.A. Brass Enrichment Program). Ah, to be a stooge in a simpler time...*VOMIT*
I think that the cinics are not understanding some things
1st) a 4 wheel veicle has trouble going up muddy slope, consumes more gas, and is a LOT louder than the BigDog engine
2nd) the fact that it could hold it's own batteries, or have some solar recharge capability, helps with the power situation - a real mule will die of exertion before this thing need to be repaired
3rd) on the mule note, the time to raise and train a mule is a lot longer that using an assembly line to pump these things out - mules also whine when the want, run away with your extra guns, and leave a poop trail to be tracked. theres a reason that the saying "stubborn as a mule " was coined
4th) using it, you can choose if you want to bring the extra 120 pound of ammo and expolsives or lighten everyones load - either of which is really helpful. Hell, who needs just one? stick 4 or 5 to a team and have them follow the swarm technology that is being worked on now. 600 pouds of extra ammo, food, water, and medical supplies is a SPECOPs dream come true .Make hundred of them, and you could open up militarey supply lines where the convoy could never go
Aid the handicapped anybody?
Not just the military aplications but the ones that help people whit movement issues... Taking a hike in the park is everyday for me but a dream to a neckdown paralysed person. How about firefighters logging x- amount of gear to skyscrapers etc. IF it works, its just a tip of the iceberg. IF it works, it has the potential to be the T-Ford for of next era of leg based movement.
After reading a few of the stupidest comments on this board all I can say is most of you are VERY narrow-sighted with regarding this project. One, this was a public release of the BigDog project so most of the more classified aspects, like its intended use and sensory imputs are not dicussed. Also the project is a massive advancement in robotic technology which vastly increases the mobility of non-maned military operations. The problems concerning the current prototype are clear and i think the developers know them better than you. By the time the project is weaponized these issues won't be of concern and this mech will be as lethal as any combat soldier.
Simply put... If not for military research we would still be chasing animals with a stick wearing nothing but animal skins.
Thats Jesus-Tastic!!!
I think this is a great idea, it makes since as well, And it has so much potential even in the non military world i was thinking maybe attach some arms to it and it would be ideal for bomb removal or investigation. As well as other police action. Who ever came up with the idea codo's to you. My son is in the military right now and i know would greatly appreciate having one of these to carry his gear while leaving him with open arms and no heavy weight on his back. so all you people who want to knock it you obviously havent ever had to do it.
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