In the trenchesBattlefield walker machines received $3 million for more studies
DARPA wants a robotic walker – in fact, a robotic pack mule — to help soldiers in the field by carrying their heavy gear; Boston Dynamics, the company developing the robot, has spoken previously of using the same walker technology in urban environments or indoors, and it has already developed a fairly advanced two-legged machine.
The U.S. military’s walker robot, aka “BigDog” or the “Legged Squad Support System” (“Four-legged Robot to Help Soldiers Carry Equipment,” 24 August 2009 HSNW) has received a further $3 million in funding. The machine, though, does not yet seem very close to seeing frontline military service.
The idea of BigDog/LS3 is that it would function like a robotic pack mule, accompanying a squad of foot soldiers and carrying heavy gear for them — backpacks, water, spare ammunition or batteries, heavy weapons, etc. Unlike an actual mule, it would be fast and able to go anywhere that the troops could.
BigDog/LS3 is being developed by MIT spinout company Boston Dynamics on behalf of DARPA. Lewis Page writes that DARPA would like the LS3 of the future to carry 400 lb plus 24 hours’ fuel, and to have a quiet stealth mode as well (at the moment it’s as noisy as a motorbike, unsuitable for many infantry operations). The current version can carry only 340 lb, and so far it has not covered more than twelve miles at a stretch.
Last week’s new contract award under LS3 saw DARPA pay Boston Dynamics $3,024,771 for unspecified “trade studies” to be delivered. These might relate to BigDog/LS3 as now envisaged, in the role of a wilderness load-carrier for dismounted troops. Boston Dynamics, however, has spoken previously of using the same walker technology in urban environments or indoors, and it has already developed a fairly advanced two-legged machine:
The PETMAN is intended for testing chemical-warfare clothes to be worn by regular troops, but it would seem to have some potential as a load-carrying assistant — or even weapons platform —able to accompany humans not only into the woods but into buildings, up stairs and ladders etc.
Page notes that trade studies normally come as precursors to real-world efforts like the existing BigDog, so it is possible this recent contract means a widening of roles and form factors.
