CMU's Crusher military bot rumbles onto the scene

Although not quite as stealthy as some of the other spybots that we've seen, the 6.5-ton Crusher UGCV (Unmanned Ground Combat Vehicle), with its 8,000-pound payload and one-kilometer range, is certainly more versatile than your typical robosnake or Packbot. Unveiled today by the National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC) at Carnegie Mellon's School of Computer Science's Robotics Institute, Crusher, like its predecessor Spinner, was commissioned by DARPA to provide combat troops with a durable cargo and surveillance option that can operate mostly autonomously even in rough terrain. Crusher is powered by a series of electric motors whose batteries are charged with a turbo diesel generator -- giving it a top speed of 26 miles-per-hour -- and manages to avoid obstacles using an array of cameras and ladar lidar. Although its first two years of service will be restricted to support role duties, Army and DARPA officials will use Crusher's performance during the probationary period to evaluate its potential use in combat as well. [Warning: PDF link]

[Ron Smith @ Apr 28th 2006 5:06PM]

Our robotic overlords arrive!

[charlie @ Apr 28th 2006 5:13PM]

Can we try it out on the French?

[charlie @ Apr 28th 2006 5:15PM]

All hail the daleks!

[Billy Shears @ Apr 28th 2006 5:38PM]

Better try it out on the White House

[SASniper @ Apr 28th 2006 5:41PM]

1km range ... that'll work :P

[Bosco @ Apr 28th 2006 5:59PM]

I liked it better when it was called the Batmobile.
http://www.cnv.co.il/pics/weeklypics/batmobile.jpg

[scott @ Apr 28th 2006 6:06PM]

why do these things need to be autonomous? we have 2 million military personnel and not 40 qualified people can remotely operate these things themselves?

oh, and that 1 km thing better be it's artillery range cause iv seen RC cars from Radio Shack do that

[Slicky Willie @ Apr 28th 2006 6:09PM]

I for one, welcome our....I mean....ask not what your country can do....I mean ummm..... fool me once shame on you....fool me ttttttt.......hhhhrrrrr....agggg gggg...boom chika boom.. boom chika boom..

[joe @ Apr 28th 2006 7:11PM]

i want one
looks fun to play with

[Admo @ Apr 28th 2006 7:45PM]

Does it come in black?

[Moordryd @ Apr 28th 2006 8:22PM]

Is it just me, or does that vehicle look like that kick-ass troop transport in Aliens?

If only Bishop could pilot this one...

[joe @ Apr 28th 2006 9:19PM]

o baby its come in ever color and ever size

[Simon @ Apr 28th 2006 10:06PM]

I'd expect things like this will make local wars and military intervention much more likely in the future.

Drop in army of these that can can be directed from afar, throw in metal storm and therombaric weapons with robotic air cover and sophisticated sensors and no worries about casualties and who will gave a damn. Lastly make sure no media coverage of cilvilian casualties and you have a perfect war.

[cmurder @ Apr 28th 2006 10:33PM]

Those guys at CMU sure know how to build robots!

[Lorne @ Apr 28th 2006 11:04PM]

I can't look at that thing without imagining it rolling over a pile of skulls.

[Poo @ Apr 28th 2006 11:28PM]

This thing sure looks like the from M577 APC Aliens:

http://www.brainkiller.it/aliens/aliens/apc01.jpg

[Murc @ Apr 29th 2006 1:19AM]

damn that thing looks just plain meeeeeeaaaan!

I'll take a dozen.

Oh, and the reason for autonomous is obvious...So we dont need a guy remote controlling it....since that wouldn't be any better then just being in it and driving the damn thing.

All branches of the military are trying to do one thing...and thats have less people, but be able to do more. Hence UAV's, and unmanned ground vehicles, and the Navy is building their ships to operate with far less people then before.

Its not just the whole media & casualty thing, its that people are very expensive...not just there salary, but food & water & shelter & the list goes on & on. machines can be ready to go to war immediately, they dont need to have training, or miss there friends & family, & they never complain.

Theres tons of reasons why the US military is doing what their doing.

[SASniper @ Apr 29th 2006 1:32AM]

That thing's gonna rock in the next TV series of 'Robot Wars'.

[Judge Buford J. Shackleford @ Apr 29th 2006 7:42AM]

Its LIDAR, *not* LADAR. Oh brother.

[David @ Apr 29th 2006 8:51AM]

Can anyone say "Bolo"? I knew you could.

Seriously, we're approaching the point where the Bolo's of Keith Laumer's S/F universe could start appearing. Nuclear power. Weapons arrays. Super computers. It's coming ... assuming we don't have a blow out with Iran that reduces the planet to slag first.

[Finished.Law.School @ Apr 29th 2006 2:50PM]

Can we send a few into Iran and North Korea for fun?

[Rich Braun @ Apr 30th 2006 1:53AM]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm I prefer the larger version that was in Aliens...

http://upx.primenova.com/2/msf/Aliens-APC.jpg

[Dean @ Apr 30th 2006 9:33AM]

#18

Both LADAR and LIDAR are generally used and accepted in the literature.

[Mike S @ Apr 30th 2006 4:41PM]

Meh.
Wake me up when the US Gov't can make Droidekas.

That'll be the day I get real interested.

[N!CO @ May 5th 2006 3:49PM]

Where can I buy aftermarket stealth upgrades?

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[living_in_the_oughts @ Jan 3rd 2007 12:00PM]

They need to build them to look like Humvee's and then drive them around like decoys.