New Experimental Military Technology Caught on Video
Crafting military technology by taking cues from nature is nothing new.
For instance, we’ve already seen advanced drones made by AeroVironment (Nasdaq: AVAV) that were inspired by hummingbirds. And scientists at Harvard have studied how pigeons fly in order to apply their maneuvering capabilities to unmanned aircraft.
Well, it looks like man’s best friend is next on the list.
Massachusetts-based Boston Dynamics is developing a new military technology for the marines called the Legged Squad Support System.
Otherwise known as “Big Dog,” the goal of this four-legged robot is to help marines and soldiers in the field by carrying excess gear. Its current design can haul up to 400 pounds of equipment over 20 miles before refueling.
It’s not just a pack mule, however. Eventually, the company believes it can equip the robot with a mobile power station, as well. That way, soldiers can keep their important devices charged on the go without lugging around extra batteries.
Big Dog isn’t set for the field just yet. It’s undergoing rigorous testing over the next two years. By the time it’s ready for primetime, though, it should actually be able to respond to verbal commands – no obedience school required.
Once that feature’s finalized, the company will need to figure out a way to make Big Dog a bit stealthier. I’m sure the troops would appreciate it.
Related Topics: Tech and Innovation, U.S.
yea , it runs until someone aims an rpg or bazooka at the legs, it then becomes a pile of scrap metal, WHAT A WASTE
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Outfit it with a grenade or missle launcher, and we can let it lead the charge instead of our brave soldiers.
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WOW! I WONDER IF WE GAVE IT TO CHINA YET? Just wondering…
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Big dog will never be adopted by the Marines. It is noisy and slow. If I were still in the Marines I would stay far away from Big Dog because Big Dog = Big Disaster.
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Waste of tax dollars, understand that this isn’t what is actually under development…this is research for other things…God bless Uncle Sam…when are we going to spend some money on solving hunger and joblessness and a host of other social issues…never…but we have money for big DOG.
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Actually we don’t have any money for big dog or anything, we’re 16 trillion in debt and that is not broke that is broken, so they just keep printing money which devalues your money and keeps the monopoly game going until it takes a truck load of dollars to buy a loaf of bread just like back in Germany. What a country, what has our Congress done to us?
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The old reliable army mule is still better. It can heal from its wounds, live off the land and be reproduced by cheap labor!
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The USA continue to think in militaristic terms instead of peaceful co-existence.
Construction is more meaningful than destruction, even as sometimes one must destruct in order to construct. Violence breeds violence. So as long as the US prepare and make war, one must expect the violence to find its way home. No other way. The more violence the US exports, the more will occur on the domestic front.
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