Meet DARPA's Big Dog's brother, the Legged Squad Support System (LS3) - Polidicks

[release] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY42w1w0TWk[/media] Today’s dismounted warfighter can be saddled with more than 100 pounds of gear, resulting in physical strain, fatigue and degraded performance. Reducing the load on dismounted warfighters has become a major point of emphasis for defense research and development, because the increasing weight of individual equipment has a negative impact on warfighter readiness. The Army has identified physical overburden as one of its top five science and technology challenges. To help alleviate physical weight on troops, DARPA is developing a highly mobile, semi-autonomous legged robot, the Legged Squad Support System (LS3), to integrate with a squad of Marines or Soldiers. Recently the LS3 prototype underwent its first outdoor exercise, demonstrating the ability to follow a person using its “eyes”—sensors that allow the robot to distinguish between trees, rocks, terrain obstacles and people. Over the course of the next 18 months, DARPA plans to complete development of and refine key capabilities to ensure LS3 is able to support dismounted squads of warfighters. Features to be tested and validated include the ability to carry 400lbs on a 20-mile trek in 24-hours without being refueled, and refinement of LS3’s vision sensors to track a specific individual or object, observe obstacles in its path and to autonomously make course corrections as needed. Also planned is the addition of “hearing” technology, enabling squad members to speak commands to LS3 such as “stop,” “sit” or “come here.” The robot also serves as a mobile auxiliary power source— troops may recharge batteries for radios and handheld devices while on patrol. DARPA seeks to demonstrate that an LS3 can carry a considerable load from dismounted squad members, follow them through rugged terrain and interact with them in a natural way, similar to the way a trained animal and its handler interact. “If successful, this could provide real value to a squad while addressing the military’s concern for unburdening troops,” said Army Lt. Col. Joe Hitt, DARPA program manager. “LS3 seeks to have the responsiveness of a trained animal and the carrying capacity of a mule.” The 18-month platform-refinement test cycle, with Marine and Army involvement, kicks off this summer. The tests culminate in a planned capstone exercise where LS3 will embed with Marines conducting field exercises. LS3 is based on mobility technology advanced by DARPA’s Big Dog technology demonstrator, as well other DARPA robotics programs which developed the perception technology for LS3’s “eyes” and planned “ears.” The DARPA LS3 performer is Boston Dynamics of Waltham, Mass.[/release] [url]http://www.darpa.mil/NewsEvents/Releases/2012/02/07.aspx[/url]

That thing looks fucking scary and I want to shoot it really badly.

It's cool, but currently it is just far too noisy for squad operations.

Everytime I see another advancement with Boston Dynamics, I'm afraid DARPA will want to arm one of these beasts, and that eventually we'll end up with one of these walker things from Battle: LA: [img_thumb]http://media.screened.com/uploads/0/5735/424060-alienwalker.jpg[/img_thumb] and then i realize that would be pretty fuckin cool

The guy filming it seems afraid to death of the damn thing I would fucking hate to see that thing running towards me and knowing I'm it's enemy.

Looks like it's doing it's mating dance,sounds like it too...

[IMG]http://i.computer-bild.de/imgs/1/2/8/7/4/2/9/Actionspiel-Metal-Gear-Solid-4-Feinde-745x419-bb488157f4e08606.jpg[/IMG] Soon.

[QUOTE=latin_geek;34618284]The guy filming it seems afraid to death of the damn thing I would fucking hate to see that thing running towards me and knowing I'm it's enemy.[/QUOTE] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptyV1cpE14o[/media] I would drop my weapon and run away if this thing was after me.

It's a shame that thing makes a fuckload of noise, in a combat situation you wouldn't want to give away your position.

[QUOTE=martijnp3000;34618630]It's a shame that thing makes a fuckload of noise, in a combat situation you wouldn't want to give away your position.[/QUOTE] It's just for carrying your shit, it's not a combat unit.

[QUOTE=Kecske;34618571][IMG]http://i.computer-bild.de/imgs/1/2/8/7/4/2/9/Actionspiel-Metal-Gear-Solid-4-Feinde-745x419-bb488157f4e08606.jpg[/IMG] Soon.[/QUOTE] You know, that's a really terrible design for a robot. It could fall down and if one leg gets shot off it can no longer move. Several legs is the way to go. You can still step over things as with two legs, but you've got more in case you need them. Just get this current design, add another pair of legs, and give it arms. That is the ultimate mammal.

[QUOTE=Archonos 2;34618664]It's just for carrying your shit, it's not a combat unit.[/QUOTE] See the video above, a weaponized drone.

[QUOTE=-nesto-;34618600][media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptyV1cpE14o[/media] I would drop my weapon and run away if this thing was after me.[/QUOTE] I'm happy they have got a sense of humor. Wait, that's not a joke? Or is it?

All we need now is a railgun and a girl with PTSD.

[QUOTE=shian;34618991]I'm happy they have got a sense of humor. Wait, that's not a joke? Or is it?[/QUOTE]Not a joke. The US is going to replace human soldiers with millions of bull robots that will slowly march their way through the warzone to give the enemies bruises and cuts.

Although the general tech r&d from the project is useful, I don't see these robotic donkeys being used in the future at all. I imagine exoskeletons for the soldiers themselves will alleviate their overburden.

I for one welcome our new American Combine overlords? [editline]9th February 2012[/editline] [url=http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-02/uk-report-suggests-soldiers-could-one-day-plug-their-weapons-right-brains]British brain warriors[/url] vs American robot soldiers. Lets go!

[QUOTE=Cone;34618669]Several legs is the way to go. You can still step over things as with two legs, but you've got more in case you need them. Just get this current design, add another pair of legs, and give it arms. That is the ultimate mammal.[/QUOTE] And a mouth or two; that way it can scream in robotic pain, or just play the squad's collective iTunes Top 10 track list.

Why not just fund Raytheon's exoskeleton program instead? I would rather have something that can give you massive strength and protection rather than that. 2010 prototype. [url]http://www.raytheon.com/newsroom/technology/rtn08_exoskeleton/[/url]

[QUOTE=SpaceGhost;34619968]Why not just fund Raytheon's exoskeleton program instead? I would rather have something that can give you massive strength and protection rather than that. 2010 prototype. [url]http://www.raytheon.com/newsroom/technology/rtn08_exoskeleton/[/url][/QUOTE] Why not, like... Both, or something... And then put the exoskeleton riding the LS3, and then build an army of them.

[QUOTE=SpaceGhost;34619968]Why not just fund Raytheon's exoskeleton program instead? I would rather have something that can give you massive strength and protection rather than that. 2010 prototype. [url]http://www.raytheon.com/newsroom/technology/rtn08_exoskeleton/[/url][/QUOTE] Because that requires someone able to operate it be in a dangerous area if they are carrying a squad's gear. With this, all it needs is someone in a tent a a few miles away. Plus you'd most likely need specific training for that. With this that's up to whoever makes the UI.

I read this thread about DARPA creating a walker for use in the battlefield, I then read the thread about DARPA inserting a device in a moth's brain in order to control it in flight... Skynet is only a few years away!

[QUOTE=sam.clarke;34620338]I read this thread about DARPA creating a walker for use in the battlefield, I then read the thread about DARPA inserting a device in a moth's brain in order to control it in flight... Skynet is only a few years away![/QUOTE] But SkyNet didn't have cyborgs Tai Yong Medical on the other hand...

You guys are looking at this the wrong way. I would love to have one of those, it would be an incredible mount. Oh what's that? you have a motorcycle? I have a robo-horse. All the class of a horse with none of the responsibilities

[img]http://images.wikia.com/starwars/images/8/8f/ATAT-CHRON.jpg[/img] One step closer...

People seem so amazed by BigDog prototypes, but nobody seems all that interested in the PETMAN prototype. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mclbVTIYG8E[/media]

[QUOTE=LittleDogX;34620937]People seem so amazed by BigDog prototypes, but nobody seems all that interested in the PETMAN prototype. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mclbVTIYG8E[/media][/QUOTE] those are some fuckin stylin boots

[QUOTE=LittleDogX;34620937]People seem so amazed by BigDog prototypes, but nobody seems all that interested in the PETMAN prototype. [/QUOTE] This thing sounds like it'd be great for psychological warfare. Add some armour to it and make it walk towards insurgents.

[QUOTE=Cone;34620304]Because that requires someone able to operate it be in a dangerous area if they are carrying a squad's gear. With this, all it needs is someone in a tent a a few miles away. Plus you'd most likely need specific training for that. With this that's up to whoever makes the UI.[/QUOTE] it wouldn't be just one person wearing it, they are trying to make it cheap enough for all combat orientated forces to wear, but that's probably going to be a while.

[QUOTE=SpaceGhost;34621197]it wouldn't be just one person wearing it, they are trying to make it cheap enough for all combat orientated forces to wear, but that's probably going to be a while.[/QUOTE] It's more effective to use what you know. We'll have exoskeletons in time, but for now it's better to use simpler things like this. Exoskeletons are the kinda things you see around the 2030's. Things like robots are more modern.