Guardium UGV robot tears it up to keep watch on trespassers

We've seen plenty of robot security guards before, but not one quite like this so-called Guardium UGV built by G-Nius, which is apparently just as comfortable going off-road as it is patrolling a parking lot. Unlike some other "robots," this one is also fully autonomous, with it relying on GPS most of the time, and it able to fall back on its own decision-making skills to overcome poor GPS conditions and avoid obstacles. Naturally, the bot can also be loaded up with any number of different payloads to let it take on more ambitious missions, including a hostile fire indicator, a missile approach warning system, chemical snifters, fire extinguishers, and even an "RFID Interrogator," to name but a few. Be sure to head on past the break to check it out in action.

[Via Crave]

[Rage @ Aug 5th 2008 4:29PM]

I want one to guard my college quad against Guido's

[OneLove @ Aug 5th 2008 6:01PM]

its as big as a 747!

[Sam @ Aug 5th 2008 6:21PM]

That's what she said!

I'm sorry . . .

[OneLove @ Aug 6th 2008 11:20AM]

she cant talk with her mouth full.

[Ian @ Aug 5th 2008 4:30PM]

But will it stop the goats.

[Prasand J. @ Aug 5th 2008 7:51PM]

I read that as "will it stop 'for' goats."


roadkill.

[Paulmichael @ Aug 5th 2008 8:56PM]

No, I like it better the way you first had it. Haha!

[AlphaOneZero @ Aug 5th 2008 4:33PM]

that kinda looks like the combine road vehicle from half life 2, anybody else think so?

[Lorin Halpert @ Aug 5th 2008 4:53PM]

You are not the only one, I wonder how well it responds to obstacles in its path while going that fast... specifically ones by the name of Gordon Frohman.

[Olly4 @ Aug 5th 2008 6:54PM]

Indeed, that was my first thought. Now I seem to remember that those were the human made combine vehicles... It seems we don't have long before the combine come. Let's stock up on crowbars.

[Ayman @ Aug 6th 2008 12:39AM]

SKYNET is online

[fieldcar @ Aug 5th 2008 4:34PM]

Looks like robocop meets my ATV. Impressive, but I wonder how well it can avoid people that may try to run out in front of it.

[Cassini @ Aug 5th 2008 4:52PM]

I cahnt behleev iss naht budder!

[M.Samba @ Aug 5th 2008 4:43PM]

Scientist #1 "Hey lets make a robot into a FREAKIN TANK!"
Scientist #2 "yeah whatcouldpossiblygowrong?"

[Paulmichael @ Aug 5th 2008 8:58PM]

Apparently Scientist #2 is so excited by such an idea that he cannot be bothered to use the space bar! Brilliant.

[kal326 @ Aug 5th 2008 4:43PM]

What the heck is a chemical snifter? Though, I doubt a brandy snifter would do a whole lot for a robot.

[NoAndThen @ Aug 5th 2008 6:28PM]

your statement was my exact reasoning behind clicking this article, but alas, you beat me.

[Troels C @ Aug 6th 2008 3:10AM]

When I went to see the statue of Liberty, they put me through a sniffer. It looked like a merge between an NMR scanner and a normal metal detection frame. It even made a sniffing sound.I cant see this doing anything useful, unles theres absolutely no wind and its very very close to the target though.

[Jamma @ Aug 5th 2008 4:52PM]

I for one welcome our Guardian robot overlords

[kojo87 @ Aug 5th 2008 4:52PM]

looks like the evil cousin of the VW Thing

[Steven @ Aug 5th 2008 5:04PM]

"In action"?

Yay it rolls!

[Chris Are @ Aug 5th 2008 5:07PM]

I know, right?. In the first shot it was rolling toward the camera and I was hoping it would sense danger and open fire on the unsuspecting cameraman. That would have been amazing! But that was kind of a lame demo.

[Cassini @ Aug 5th 2008 9:59PM]

"Yay it rolls!"


I know, you're right - kinda lame.

But this rolls better: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBGIQ7ZuuiU

[Adamwho @ Aug 5th 2008 5:23PM]

How hard is it to jam GPS or use an EMP device to disable the bot?

[Rick @ Aug 5th 2008 5:33PM]

GPS jammer, EMP device? You gotta' be kidding. Where are the Taliban gonna' get one of these in Afghanistan?

They are still using AK47s, RPGs and IEDs. An RPG would take that thing out as would a small IED made from a 105 round. Heck, they could sick a mad, rabid camel on it to chew up its tires.

[MadMike @ Aug 5th 2008 5:45PM]

Jamming GPS is not hard as it relies on microwave frequencies to function. However, you do need to be quite close for the jammer to be effective. That and you would need to build it yourself because they are very illegal. You would need some technical prowess, but the internet is full of very useful information. However, it does have a system that helps it when it has poor GPS reception.

EMP is considerably harder. Considering a Zeta Pinch is 20' x 100' and can only generate enough pulse to short a few light bulbs.

Both approaches would most likely end up with you in an interrogation room in Guantanamo Bay, with a bunch of very pissed off people in suits.

[NoAndThen @ Aug 5th 2008 6:25PM]

I agree with the other commenters, however even if you jammed the GPS, the article says it still has on-board navigation sensors of some sort.

[McFly @ Aug 6th 2008 1:00AM]

you can take it out by blowing out a big hole on the road and covering it with a blanket, if you have some C4 or a glass full of gas you could deposit some in the pit to lure it via it's chemical sniffers

[iEye @ Aug 5th 2008 5:23PM]

I'd rather have one of those MECH warriors from the Robocop movie patrolling my house...

[diode3diode @ Aug 5th 2008 5:27PM]

Yes but will this Gundum UGV guard the plane all the way to Europe?

[Malevolti @ Aug 6th 2008 5:28PM]

Yeah, It morphs into a humanoid robot with wings and flies along side

[Andrew @ Aug 6th 2008 11:50AM]

I would be more worried about those Palestinians next door. You did read the part about these being Israeli? Europe is an hour or two away (first stop).

[Anoldcarsnickname @ Aug 5th 2008 5:28PM]

Miniature Batman Begins/The Dark Knight batmobile?

[John @ Aug 6th 2008 2:46AM]

lol - Bat-mite could drive it!

[Karl Hackswell @ Aug 5th 2008 5:32PM]

Does anyone else remember the autonomous vehicle from "Flight of the Navigator"? That was the first thing I thought of for some reason.

[kinshadow @ Aug 5th 2008 5:34PM]

Please put down your weapon. You have 20 seconds to comply.

[octoberasian @ Aug 5th 2008 5:35PM]

So... in other words, this robot is upgradeable to include any number of attachments.

I hope one of the attachments isn't a rifle of some sort.

But, I bet someone already thought of it...

[Benson @ Aug 6th 2008 5:23PM]

No rifles. Machine guns and light mortars, thank you very much!

[dustandechoes91 @ Aug 5th 2008 5:41PM]

looks cool

needs lasers

[Technex @ Aug 5th 2008 5:56PM]

Pretty speedy, hope it has some kind of human avoidance sensors. Or perhaps it's designed without them!... Run!

[MMisterio @ Aug 5th 2008 6:15PM]

but can it play Crysis?

[NoAndThen @ Aug 5th 2008 6:27PM]

...But can you annoy the hell out of everyone here with that dead horse?

Please move it, it stinks.

[McFly @ Aug 6th 2008 12:38AM]

maybe it can play golf with your testis

[mike @ Aug 5th 2008 6:49PM]

I'm not sure that a weaponized autonomous vehicle patrolling the approach end of a runway makes me real comfortable flying into that airport.

UGV: Unidentified vehicle, you are approaching a restricted area at an excessive rate of speed, halt or I will be forced to terminate your approach.

[mecharine @ Aug 5th 2008 9:44PM]

You have 10 seconds to comply.

[Zoli @ Aug 5th 2008 8:13PM]

You guys were rocking the Guardium a few months back:

http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/29/israels-guardium-warbots-probably-not-as-lame-as-their-promo-vi/

[Seanross @ Aug 5th 2008 8:22PM]

When will Wall-E be built O.o?

I'd rather him...

[Paulmichael @ Aug 5th 2008 9:02PM]

That is pretty awesome, though what the heck could an "RFID Interrogator" be, and how much does it hurt once it decides to do that to you?

[odemata @ Aug 5th 2008 9:04PM]

looks like something from tank police

[Za @ Aug 5th 2008 9:06PM]

Predecessor to the Daleks.