DARPA contract sets its sights on autonomous, gear carrying robots
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted Oct 29th 2008 3:26PM
posted Oct 29th 2008 3:26PM
Are you a defense contractor, or would you like to be? DARPA has put out a call for a "legged vehicle capable of maneuvering robustly and nimbly" (which might be military-speak for "prancing" -- we're not entirely sure). To get in on the action, your vehicle must be able to sense, negotiate and operate in complex terrain (rubble-strewn streets and such), follow a soldier through dynamic, cluttered environments, operate quietly, pack 400 pounds of equipment and bring enough fuel for 24 hours of operation. The Legged Squad Support System (it's been pointed out that this sounds a bit like the BigDog we saw a while back) would be required to do all of this autonomously as it follows a soldier up to 100 meters (328 feet) away. Piece of cake, right? If you're interested, hit the read link for the full announcement and be sure to get your proposal in by January 6, 2009. Video of the "classic" BigDog after the break.[Via Wired]
Looks like a BFG on legs.
commence the robot overlord invasion?
that would be so fucking scary to see/hear that thing coming at you in woods if you had no idea what that was...
@lowdef
It's coming right for us!
@Low DEF
That's why DARPA might want to adopt ye olde fashioned donkeys or pack mules. They are silent, cheap, need little fuel (or can find it's own fuel), and are cheap to produce/replace. Plus an ass is autonomous and typically friendly to humans.
However, this is still very cool technology they are working on.
hey what's up? OMG CHUPACABRAS!
God, this video is so old.
Yea I think this is over a year old....
...says Lowest Ranked, throwing a bottle against the wall.
STFU dude, Christ. The mission of this site is not to post shit that entertains you and you alone. Widen your perspective and think.
Its not my job to entertain you, however, I'm sorry to disappoint.
I was just agreeing with the "classic" description of the video in the article.
He's funny and better than iEye.
So, DARPA's creating AT-ATs then?
Bring on the AT-AT's
I am officially a star wars geek for thinking to myself, 'The AT-AT probably wouldn't be nimble enough - this is a job for the AT-ST.'
I was about to say the same.
Yeah, but wouldn't you like to see a huge one of these slipping all over a frozen lake?
i swear to darpa i will virtually kill the first person that begins a comment with "Well I for one _______" fill in the blank.
I win?
Well I for one don't want to fill in the blank and welcome you as my new Mad Libs overlord.
Yeah well, good luck with that lowdef.
Well I for one Fill in the blank.
And everyone said they weren't working on MechWarrior 5....
A Mule?
METAL GEAR?!
The BigDog looks and acts almost like the Gekkos in Metal Gear Solid 4.
Took the words right out of my mind.
it really does look like a smaller 4 legged version of the MGS4 gecko
of course its the prototype for the gekko. Remember the Darpa Chief was a member of the patriots. Too bad no one found the darpa challenge to build a bi-pedal tank that has its own laser and Gatling rail gun, carries one pilot and can launch a nuclear missile from anywhere on the face of this earth half way around the world.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXJZVZFRFJc
i laugh at this every time.
I love how the woman with the dog is unphased, except for that get the fuck out of my way body movement lol.
when are we going to get AIMEE from redplanet(the movie)...the homicidal military robot with its all too easy to activate kill mode enabled.
Next thing you know that thing will be a walking rocket launcher..
Somehow I remember The Matrix trilogy :( and those robot will conquer us :((
pew pew pew?
What a requirement, carry 400LB of gear while moving nimbly?
Why dont they ask for an ironman suit while they're at it?
Also, nothing says "I AM HERE LOB GRENADES AT ME" like a soldier with a mechanical donkey following him around.
If you can lob a grenade 100m I'm sure that DARPA would like to have a look at your bone and muscle structure.
It looks like a four-legged mini-strider in that last clip of it jumping. Seriously though -- it looks to me like Big Dog is well ahead of any competition that might crop up now. Not trying to dissuade any potential competitors, but... apart from it's longevity, Big Dog can already carry 60 pounds short of the goal and navigate some pretty ridiculous terrain.
HGLURGH?
How about a horse.
If I were an enemy combatant and a group of soldiers was coming at me with some of those things in tow, I'd be running away screaming, and most likely be traumatized for life.
That video still gives me chills
i know!
"half suitcase, half homicidal maniac"
*pew pew*
Lol, that totally looks like 2 people in a funny robot costume.
Think so?
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=DrmYk_VBelg
this is a great idea. Imagine a future version that's a self contained armored life support unit, which injured soldiers can get in/be picked up by using location rfids or however they end up tracking soldiers. Crazy, crazy times we're living in here folks.
its because they're planning on building those geckos from MGS4
Honestly.. SCARED TO DEATH! Put it in the next horror film. You = Can't get away from the BIG DOG!
you guys think a mule would just sit there while your getting shot at?
By the time you factor in training the animal to do what you want it to do on the battlefield, they're probably not cheaper than this any more. Plus, how would you mount a stretcher on a single mule? You would have to drag the injured soldier behind the mule on a sled, and that would seriously suck for the injured person.
Big Dog FTW.
I dont know about you.., and I'm possibly missing some context when I say this.., however, if I was a soldier on the front line, the fucking last thing I would want was some decapitated clumbsy diseased robot dog giving my position away with its whining vespa moped sounding engine just so I could carry extra propaganda leaflets to the nearest village, couldntgiveashitville.
wacky but cool beginnings.