13 replies to this topic

[Dethl0k]

the us army is building the mech atlas lol

[Broceratops]

more like a commando!

cool video though....but can it walk down the stairs?!

[Vermaxx]

I'd be far more impressed in the thing if it was walking up stairs WITHOUT a guy taking out the slack on a safety pulley rope harness.

Militaries won't go to widespread robot use anytime soon due to one very simple reason: cost.

At this time in history, we have the ability to make the individual soldier one of the most dangerous things on the battlefield. Advanced combat armor, integrated electronics (aim assist, communications, tactical maps and enemy data), computerized weapons with multiple projectile types and sizes, and general upgrades on the killing power of projectiles and explosives.

So far, no one (that the governments are admitting) has gone to even an OICW type weapon, let alone the full suite of infantry upgrades. This is due to cost. Militaries don't want to spend millions per soldier when they could spend significantly less and recruit new humans to cover losses.

It's like the Warhammer 40k Imperial Guard. They carry some of the (comparatively) worst infantry weapons in the galaxy and insufficient armor, but they make up for this in sheer volume of soldiers. It is more cost effective to outfit ten men (or more) to an average standard, than to outfit one man to a godlike standard.

I would love to see bipedal robots and combat suits in the future, but I wish countries would spend more time figuring out how to cut down on ****, and poverty, and STARVATION, get clean water to developing countries, and...you know, try to minimize war.

I like my killy video games and RPG settings, but I wish the world was a nicer place. Robots have many cool applications, but will generally always show up as weapons before anything else.

[stjobe]

There's a bit more information on Boston Dynamic's website: http://www.bostondyn...obot_Atlas.html, and here:
http://spectrum.ieee...tics-challenge.
This is what they're trying to win: http://www.darpa.mil...2012/04/10.aspx, $2,000,000 first price.

Yes, it's called "Atlas". Yes, it's bipedal. That's about where the similarities end though - no AC/20s on this one!

[soarra]

robots and stairs

Edited by soarra, 23 November 2012 - 08:34 AM.

[Xigunder Blue]

There is a company building a remote controlled robot that resembles a spider or insect with six legs. Video (military.com I think) shows it walking thru a forest. CREEPY! Put on a bug skin and a couple of MG or rocket launchers and run (several) around the passes in the mountains of Afganistan between them and Pakistan. Get both physical damage and intelligence data plus very scary psychological deterrence. Cheaper than the lives of our fighting men and women.

edit: add a powerful directional audio speaker using low frequency sound that has physical effects, amplifying emotions already there - surprise, fear, superstition etc...

Edited by Xigunder Blue, 23 November 2012 - 10:09 AM.

[Moonsavage]

The day autonomous robots start killing people, I think I willl lose all respect for the government that deploys them.

[FrostPaw]

It's cool to see, but as has been said, robots will not replace humans as front line infantry until they become cheaper to produce. Humans can be made pretty damn cheaply. I do see a day when robots are Mass produced like i-Robot/Surrogates style, however when they are mass produced everyone can afford them. The scary thing then, will be just as with mobile phones and laptops, even terrorists can use them.

I imagine we will first see them as room clearing devices, that enable our own soldiers to avoid going into defended buildings. Similar in concept to the robots used in bomb disposal.

Edited by FrostPaw, 23 November 2012 - 10:45 AM.

[Viper69]

Yeah, but the Russian army had a Marauder during its revolution if memory serves.

[ollo]

I find the Big Dog far more interesting, may be the base for 4-legged mechs:


The beta version is also interesting:

[Hood]

Didnt Japan build a mech like 5 years ago? Looked kind of like a puma but larger.

[Deathsiege]

I want one with breastesses that can make a sandwich i.e. Cherry 2000.

Edited by Deathsiege, 23 November 2012 - 11:09 AM.

[Obeast]

This is still my favorite:
http://youtu.be/ViL4bAUGuGY

[Hood]

Blaaa who wants to be an elemental?