Posted: 9/15/2012 5:02:39 AM EDT
The Marine Corps Warfighting Lab in partnership with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and Boston Dynamic tested an autonomous robot on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Sept. 10. The Legged Squad Support System, or LS3, demonstration was a performance test of the pack mule prototype for the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James Amos and DARPA Director Arati Prabhakar. Interviews include: Lt. Col Joe Hitt, DARPA program manager, and Brig. Gen. Mark R. Wise, Commanding General of the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory. Video by Cpl. Christofer Baines.
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That little fucker was cooking at ~1:30 There is another vid of that thing doing down a wooded hill, pretty cool. Very stable. Quoted: It's a prototype, I'm sure they'll find a way to make it quieter, faster, and more capable............just in time for the program to be scrapped. Ya never know, they are using that drone helo to do resupply. I'd be more worried about fuckers trying to add more shit to it. In five years expect it to have solar panels, reactive armor, GAU8, and a CRAM. ***edit**** Quoted: I want one with six legs and a Gatling gun. see!  |
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great, because we have SO much extra cash floating around to fund this kind of pie-in-the-sky bullshit.  I know right taking weight off our soldiers backs is such a stupid use of funds, people like you piss me off worse than a god damn liberal. Use your fucking brain |
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Quoted: A much improved Version 2.0 was just released that is quieter, faster, smarter, more sure footed and can source it's own energy in most environments: http://www.historytoday.com/sites/default/files/warhorse.jpg |
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It's a prototype, I'm sure they'll find a way to make it quieter, faster, and more capable............just in time for the program to be scrapped. Yep. Seems to me a real mule might be cheaper and more reliable; and a bit more stubborn. ETA: Beat by kallnojoy |
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A much improved Version 2.0 was just released that is quieter, faster, smarter, more sure footed and can source it's own energy in most environments: http://www.historytoday.com/sites/default/files/warhorse.jpg That's so crazy, it just might work! 
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Looking at cost of the project, the logistics to support it, the logistics to move the big piece of shit when it malfunctions on a patrol, the "civilian contractor specialist" needed to repair it, the parts for when it steps on an IED and gets kerplowied to pieces and now the grunts have an extra couple of pounds to toss on their backs and bring back to the base.
Good idea, but practicality is lacking. I am all for reducing weight and allowing ground troops to be more mobile; I don't think this is the way to do it though. |
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Looking at cost of the project, the logistics to support it, the logistics to move the big piece of shit when it malfunctions on a patrol, the "civilian contractor specialist" needed to repair it, the parts for when it steps on an IED and gets kerplowied to pieces and now the grunts have an extra couple of pounds to toss on their backs and bring back to the base. Good idea, but practicality is lacking. I am all for reducing weight and allowing ground troops to be more mobile; I don't think this is the way to do it though. One has to think how millions of dollars this is costing when a pack mule costs $1500. So for the 10 robotic 2 stroke scream machines, you could have had 23,463 pack mules. 
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I know its a proto but in the first closeup I see two little dinky fans like you have in a desktop computer. Like that has a chance of working in a wet or dusty condition!
My guess is they could spend about a quarter million on each once they get into production and a real mule would beat it out in every catergory about 97% of the time and be easier to care for |
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Remember, this is the one that you are allowed to see. There are probably at least one and maybe two more devices that already have some of the improvements in place. This may never see the field in reality but they work they are doing on autonomous robotics, ground based and air based, will dramatically affect the use of unmanned equipment for decades.Yes, you can bring the mule back but this equipment can be programmed to go where and when its supposed to without human assistance and only needs a reboot every day to get the newest software patch installed!
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great, because we have SO much extra cash floating around to fund this kind of pie-in-the-sky bullshit. I know right taking weight off our soldiers backs is such a stupid use of funds, people like you piss me off worse than a god damn liberal. Use your fucking brain You know that once they remove, say, 50 lbs from each soldier and put it on the mule they'll just find 50lbs more stuff for the soldier to carry. |
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A much improved Version 2.0 was just released that is quieter, faster, smarter, more sure footed and can source it's own energy in most environments: http://www.historytoday.com/sites/default/files/warhorse.jpg Yea. Wtf!? Let's make an artificial mule that is worse than a real mule and 3000 times more expensive.
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A much improved Version 2.0 was just released that is quieter, faster, smarter, more sure footed and can source it's own energy in most environments: http://www.historytoday.com/sites/default/files/warhorse.jpg Yea. Wtf!? Let's make an artificial mule that is worse than a real mule and 3000 times more expensive. Have you ever been around a real mule? Yea this thing has plenty of logistical problems but mules aren't fucking bullet/bomb/IED/infection/injury proof |
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great, because we have SO much extra cash floating around to fund this kind of pie-in-the-sky bullshit. I know right taking weight off our soldiers backs is such a stupid use of funds, people like you piss me off worse than a god damn liberal. Use your fucking brain You know that once they remove, say, 50 lbs from each soldier and put it on the mule they'll just find 50lbs more stuff for the soldier to carry. This. ” oh we see your 81 section is bringing a skedco for your rounds and tubes, we need you to put some com 201s and a bazillion bottles of water on it too” 
I can just visualize this thing going wonky and running off with all our shit. |
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A battery that could make a car go 100 miles will make that critter run quiet all day. What they are really working on is mobility and terrain negotiation. um, no. spinning a tire on an aerodynamic car on a smooth road != all terrain quadruped locomotion carrying a payload. |
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A battery that could make a car go 100 miles will make that critter run quiet all day. What they are really working on is mobility and terrain negotiation. um, no. spinning a tire on an aerodynamic car on a smooth road != all terrain quadruped locomotion carrying a payload. Well clearly the solution is nuclear batteries.
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great, because we have SO much extra cash floating around to fund this kind of pie-in-the-sky bullshit. I know right taking weight off our soldiers backs is such a stupid use of funds, people like you piss me off worse than a god damn liberal. Use your fucking brain You know that once they remove, say, 50 lbs from each soldier and put it on the mule they'll just find 50lbs more stuff for the soldier to carry. This. ” oh we see your 81 section is bringing a skedco for your rounds and tubes, we need you to put some com 201s and a bazillion bottles of water on it too”
I can just visualize this thing going wonky and running off with all our shit. HA, I just got a picture in my head of a bunch of Marines chasing this thing across Gods creation. " Shoot that mother fucker, it's got my porn collection!" |
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great, because we have SO much extra cash floating around to fund this kind of pie-in-the-sky bullshit. I know right taking weight off our soldiers backs is such a stupid use of funds, people like you piss me off worse than a god damn liberal. Use your fucking brain You know that once they remove, say, 50 lbs from each soldier and put it on the mule they'll just find 50lbs more stuff for the soldier to carry. This. ” oh we see your 81 section is bringing a skedco for your rounds and tubes, we need you to put some com 201s and a bazillion bottles of water on it too”
I can just visualize this thing going wonky and running off with all our shit. HA, I just got a picture in my head of a bunch of Marines chasing this thing across Gods creation. " Shoot that mother fucker, it's got my porn collection!" 
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: A much improved Version 2.0 was just released that is quieter, faster, smarter, more sure footed and can source it's own energy in most environments: http://www.historytoday.com/sites/default/files/warhorse.jpg Yea. Wtf!? Let's make an artificial mule that is worse than a real mule and 3000 times more expensive. Have you ever been around a real mule? Yea this thing has plenty of logistical problems but mules aren't fucking bullet/bomb/IED/infection/injury proof But they are cheap, and nature did all the R &D ... |
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great, because we have SO much extra cash floating around to fund this kind of pie-in-the-sky bullshit. I know right taking weight off our soldiers backs is such a stupid use of funds, people like you piss me off worse than a god damn liberal. Use your fucking brain You know that once they remove, say, 50 lbs from each soldier and put it on the mule they'll just find 50lbs more stuff for the soldier to carry. This. ” oh we see your 81 section is bringing a skedco for your rounds and tubes, we need you to put some com 201s and a bazillion bottles of water on it too”
I can just visualize this thing going wonky and running off with all our shit. I laughed my ass off at that.
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One has to think how millions of dollars this is costing when a pack mule costs $1500. So for the 10 robotic 2 stroke scream machines, you could have had 23,463 pack mules. How many mules, and how many veterinarians to care for them? How many farriers to shoe them? How many stablehands to keep them clean and healthy? You can't stock spare parts for a mule, and you can't put off fixing catastrophic failures or damage to it, because it'll die. Mules aren't damage resistant. Mules may refuse to conceal or cover themselves, or go to places our personnel need to go. Mules can kick and bite when they're surly. Mules may freak the fuck out when injured, or be spooked by very loud noises (e.g., when fighting happens). Robots can be fixed with spare parts, can be repaired at your leisure and with total certainty by technicians (not specialized doctors); robots may be designed with redundant or rugged systems to resist damage; robots will always do what you tell them to do, and are absolutely silent and motionless when you turn them off. Robots can be strapped to pallets and thrown out of airplanes and carried in tight spaces a living thing would not tolerate. Robot fuel doesn't go bad. Robots don't get sick or shit and piss all over the place. Robots don't need stables, and don't smell like horse-dick all the time. |
| Video of an early test model was released a few years ago: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXJZVZFRFJc |
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A much improved Version 2.0 was just released that is quieter, faster, smarter, more sure footed and can source it's own energy in most environments: http://www.historytoday.com/sites/default/files/warhorse.jpg Yea. Wtf!? Let's make an artificial mule that is worse than a real mule and 3000 times more expensive. Have you ever been around a real mule? Yea this thing has plenty of logistical problems but mules aren't fucking bullet/bomb/IED/infection/injury proof But they are cheap, and nature did all the R &D ... Nature also gave it a mind of its' own and the ability to kick or stomp the shit out whomever or whatever is pissing it off. All I'm saying is give the damn thing a chance, every time a thread comes up on ARFCOM about new tech that is .gov funded somebody comes in and says what a waste of money. We all know that the .gov is exceptional at little other than wasting money, but hell if we don't try then we WILL lose. And honestly the money dumped into these type projects pales in comparison to what we GIVE AWAY to undiserving people here and abroad |
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One has to think how millions of dollars this is costing when a pack mule costs $1500. So for the 10 robotic 2 stroke scream machines, you could have had 23,463 pack mules. How many mules, and how many veterinarians to care for them? How many farriers to shoe them? How many stablehands to keep them clean and healthy? You can't stock spare parts for a mule, and you can't put off fixing catastrophic failures or damage to it, because it'll die. Mules aren't damage resistant. Mules may refuse to conceal or cover themselves, or go to places our personnel need to go. Mules can kick and bite when they're surly. Mules may freak the fuck out when injured, or be spooked by very loud noises (e.g., when fighting happens). Robots can be fixed with spare parts, can be repaired at your leisure and with total certainty by technicians (not specialized doctors); robots may be designed with redundant or rugged systems to resist damage; robots will always do what you tell them to do, and are absolutely silent and motionless when you turn them off. Robots can be strapped to pallets and thrown out of airplanes and carried in tight spaces a living thing would not tolerate. Robot fuel doesn't go bad. Robots don't get sick or shit and piss all over the place. Robots don't need stables, and don't smell like horse-dick all the time. But a mule can be used as a food source. :) |
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A much improved Version 2.0 was just released that is quieter, faster, smarter, more sure footed and can source it's own energy in most environments: http://www.historytoday.com/sites/default/files/warhorse.jpg Yea. Wtf!? Let's make an artificial mule that is worse than a real mule and 3000 times more expensive. Have you ever been around a real mule? Yea this thing has plenty of logistical problems but mules aren't fucking bullet/bomb/IED/infection/injury proof The most important part of an actual mule is the training the solider or Marines who are responsible for them need. Once you have a core understanding of how to care for and use them....the actual mules are fairly easily replace....or can be substituted for horse or similar animals. |
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A much improved Version 2.0 was just released that is quieter, faster, smarter, more sure footed and can source it's own energy in most environments: ] not even close... if the horse was so good we wouldnt have come up with jeeps... easily lamed easily frightened as the load increases, it slows down and is even easier to lame up. and it need to sleep |
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A much improved Version 2.0 was just released that is quieter, faster, smarter, more sure footed and can source it's own energy in most environments: http://www.historytoday.com/sites/default/files/warhorse.jpg Yea. Wtf!? Let's make an artificial mule that is worse than a real mule and 3000 times more expensive. Have you ever been around a real mule? Yea this thing has plenty of logistical problems but mules aren't fucking bullet/bomb/IED/infection/injury proof But they are cheap, and nature did all the R &D ... Nature also gave it a mind of its' own and the ability to kick or stomp the shit out whomever or whatever is pissing it off. All I'm saying is give the damn thing a chance, every time a thread comes up on ARFCOM about new tech that is .gov funded somebody comes in and says what a waste of money. We all know that the .gov is exceptional at little other than wasting money, but hell if we don't try then we WILL lose. And honestly the money dumped into these type projects pales in comparison to what we GIVE AWAY to undiserving people here and abroad Mules have successfully been used by humans for how many years....same for horses...camels...and other pack animals. This is a mega-$$$$$$$$$$$$$ program to use technology to fix that which already exists in nature in a far and more useful form. As for sustainability....the gas-mule is no more survivable than the meat mule. |
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are folks really talking about how loud a prototype is? multiple revs away from finished? too funny Which is why the program is a joke. They have spent how many years developing an gas-mule for use in places like Afghanistan at a time when we are preparing to leave Afghanistan. When they could have fielded the meat mule in 2003 or 2004 or at any time since for a fraction of the cost and been getting actual results. |
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A much improved Version 2.0 was just released that is quieter, faster, smarter, more sure footed and can source it's own energy in most environments: http://www.historytoday.com/sites/default/files/warhorse.jpg
I wonder what the R&D cost between the two is...
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Mount a flamethrower on it and unleash herds of skynet hellmules against the enemy.
One big advantage of these over a meat mule is that PETA won't give a shit if you abuse these things. Also, you can control them remotely. Is that an IED or a pile of trash? Robomule, go over there and stomp on that thing. |