DARPA contract sets its sights on autonomous, gear carrying robots

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]

[Mike C @ Oct 29th 2008 3:28PM]

Looks like a BFG on legs.

commence the robot overlord invasion?

[lowdef @ Oct 29th 2008 3:33PM]

that would be so fucking scary to see/hear that thing coming at you in woods if you had no idea what that was...

[sip @ Oct 29th 2008 3:37PM]

@lowdef

It's coming right for us!

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Oct 29th 2008 10:28PM]

@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.

[Vander @ Oct 30th 2008 12:39PM]

hey what's up? OMG CHUPACABRAS!

[Lowest Ranked @ Oct 29th 2008 3:30PM]

God, this video is so old.

[Zelatio @ Oct 29th 2008 4:31PM]

Yea I think this is over a year old....

[Saad @ Oct 29th 2008 4:35PM]

...says Lowest Ranked, throwing a bottle against the wall.

[Valicore @ Oct 29th 2008 4:59PM]

STFU dude, Christ. The mission of this site is not to post shit that entertains you and you alone. Widen your perspective and think.

[Lowest Ranked @ Oct 29th 2008 5:07PM]

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.

[CT A @ Oct 29th 2008 9:10PM]

He's funny and better than iEye.

[sip @ Oct 29th 2008 3:31PM]

Bring on the AT-AT's

[BJ is Gooder @ Oct 29th 2008 3:53PM]

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.'

[HunterXI @ Oct 29th 2008 4:12PM]

I was about to say the same.

[sip @ Oct 29th 2008 4:54PM]

Yeah, but wouldn't you like to see a huge one of these slipping all over a frozen lake?

[lowdef @ Oct 29th 2008 3:31PM]

i swear to darpa i will virtually kill the first person that begins a comment with "Well I for one _______" fill in the blank.

[Mike C @ Oct 29th 2008 3:33PM]

I win?

[Christian Martin @ Oct 29th 2008 3:36PM]

Well I for one don't want to fill in the blank and welcome you as my new Mad Libs overlord.

[Valicore @ Oct 29th 2008 5:00PM]

Yeah well, good luck with that lowdef.

[Christian Martin @ Oct 29th 2008 3:31PM]

So, DARPA's creating AT-ATs then?

[Kamokazi @ Oct 29th 2008 3:34PM]

And everyone said they weren't working on MechWarrior 5....

[Rafer @ Oct 29th 2008 3:35PM]

A Mule?

[Chaz @ Oct 29th 2008 3:39PM]

METAL GEAR?!

The BigDog looks and acts almost like the Gekkos in Metal Gear Solid 4.

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Oct 29th 2008 3:53PM]

Took the words right out of my mind.

[Ray @ Oct 29th 2008 5:13PM]

it really does look like a smaller 4 legged version of the MGS4 gecko

[vannyx @ Oct 30th 2008 8:04PM]

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.

[t-money @ Oct 29th 2008 3:44PM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXJZVZFRFJc

i laugh at this every time.

[Valicore @ Oct 29th 2008 5:03PM]

I love how the woman with the dog is unphased, except for that get the fuck out of my way body movement lol.

[A.J. @ Oct 29th 2008 3:45PM]

Well I for one Fill in the blank.

[germs @ Oct 29th 2008 3:55PM]

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.

[Patriks7 @ Oct 29th 2008 3:59PM]

Next thing you know that thing will be a walking rocket launcher..

[ZnO3 @ Oct 29th 2008 4:03PM]

Somehow I remember The Matrix trilogy :( and those robot will conquer us :((

[StalematE @ Oct 29th 2008 4:11PM]

pew pew pew?

[Pikl @ Oct 29th 2008 4:38PM]

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.

[Pikl @ Oct 29th 2008 4:40PM]

HGLURGH?

[blooy @ Oct 29th 2008 5:04PM]

How about a horse.

[Valicore @ Oct 29th 2008 5:07PM]

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.

[soobin27 @ Oct 29th 2008 5:14PM]

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.

[Harry Wagstaff @ Oct 29th 2008 7:16PM]

If you can lob a grenade 100m I'm sure that DARPA would like to have a look at your bone and muscle structure.

[Cardbored @ Oct 29th 2008 5:23PM]

That video still gives me chills

[StalematE @ Oct 29th 2008 10:21PM]

i know!

[tanporakuda @ Oct 29th 2008 7:39PM]

"half suitcase, half homicidal maniac"

[Darryl @ Oct 29th 2008 8:25PM]

*pew pew*
Lol, that totally looks like 2 people in a funny robot costume.

[Caz @ Oct 30th 2008 7:05AM]

Think so?
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=DrmYk_VBelg

[NoAndThen @ Oct 29th 2008 9:10PM]

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.

[Dennis @ Oct 29th 2008 9:15PM]

its because they're planning on building those geckos from MGS4

[Doug @ Oct 29th 2008 10:29PM]

Honestly.. SCARED TO DEATH! Put it in the next horror film. You = Can't get away from the BIG DOG!

[jerry @ Oct 30th 2008 2:12AM]

you guys think a mule would just sit there while your getting shot at?

[Jon Acheson @ Oct 30th 2008 10:43AM]

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.

[Mega 777 @ Oct 30th 2008 1:08PM]

To me it's looks like an AT-PT if the
back legs were removed and it walked backwards.