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Army Looks at Robotic Dogs

Posted by michael on from the bow-wow dept.

mr. squishie writes "Someone important must have gotten an Aibo...According to Wired news, the Army's Tank-automotive and Armaments Command has just awarded a $2.5 million contract to build a prototype of a large robot dog that would follow soldiers into battle and carry food, ammunition, and medical supplies. This is apparently part of a larger movement by various branches of the military investigating the uses of robots based on various types of wildlife, ranging from engine-repairing robot elephant trunks and mine-destroying robot lobsters to the cliched robot-fly-spy-on-the-wall trick. I wonder if they're looking into giant robot anteaters as an alternative to costly bunker-buster bombs?"

38 of 478 comments (clear)

  1. Taliban does this already! by Lispy · · Score: 5, Funny

    Its called a mule.

    1. Re:Taliban does this already! by pantycrickets · · Score: 5, Funny

      Its called a mule.

      Mules are inexpensive and reliable though. The point isn't to save money!

    2. Re:Taliban does this already! by gethane · · Score: 2, Funny

      Ack! Facts! We don't want no stinking facts here! It's slashdot for chrissakes!

  2. Robotic Dogs Look at Army by mccalli · · Score: 3, Funny
    In Soviet Russia...

    Ah hell, I really can't bring myself to type it. I deeply apologise for my descent into Slashdotism. It won't happen again. I promise. Honest.

    Cheers,
    Ian

  3. what about... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    robot sharks.... with laser beams.

  4. Re: Why not.. by Black+Parrot · · Score: 1, Funny


    > Work on robot soldiers, and save yourself all of the hassle of killing people at all. That would be a lot more fun to watch on CNN anyway.

    I used to watch it on PBS.

    --
    Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
  5. Makes sense. by CaptainAlbert · · Score: 5, Funny

    I wonder if they're looking into giant robot anteaters as an alternative to costly bunker-buster bombs?

    Why not? After all, they've already got a giant robot chimpanzee as an alternative to a defense secretary.

    <rimshot>
    --
    These sigs are more interesting tha
  6. NAME ALERT by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    I've no problem with this idea if they don't call any of the dogs "Beagle."

  7. I for one... by GearheadX · · Score: 0, Funny

    ...will welcome our new, wardroid masters.

  8. Troubleshooting report... by Black+Parrot · · Score: 5, Funny


    > ...has just awarded a $2.5 million contract to build a prototype of a large robot dog that would follow soldiers into battle and carry food, ammunition, and medical supplies.

    When the early prototype mysteriously faild to deliver the food, an investigation revealed that they had foolishly based the design on Scooby Doo.

    --
    Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
  9. Giant Robot Anteaters by RevMike · · Score: 4, Funny

    I wonder if they're looking into giant robot anteaters as an alternative to costly bunker-buster bombs?"

    Who is deploying giant robot ants? If no one is deployiong such a weapon, why are we creating something to eat them?

    1. Re:Giant Robot Anteaters by pantycrickets · · Score: 5, Funny

      Who is deploying giant robot ants? If no one is deployiong such a weapon, why are we creating something to eat them?

      This is another one of our preemptive measures. I mean, it's a safe bet that the Chinese are building robotic ants anyway.

    2. Re:Giant Robot Anteaters by CaptainAlbert · · Score: 5, Funny

      Who is deploying giant robot ants? If no one is deployiong such a weapon, why are we creating something to eat them?

      Because it's symbolic of American foreign policy (sticking an extra-long nose in where it's not wanted).

      In related news, the French army is said to be working on a squadron of giant robot ostriches.

      --
      These sigs are more interesting tha
  10. Kitten by Councilor+Hart · · Score: 1, Funny

    Miauw...
    Silly dog. Who caries around C4 strapped to his back.
    Miauw...
    ...BOEM...
    Miauw...
    Silly dog.
    Miauw...

  11. Mr. Burns: by thoolihan · · Score: 1, Funny

    Burns: "I'm looking for something in an attack dog. One who likes the sweet gamey tang of human flesh. Hmmm, why here's the fellow ... Wiry, fast, firm, proud buttocks. Reminds me of me."

    --
    http://unmoldable.com W:"No one of consequence" I:"I must know" W:"Get used to disappointment"
  12. Lead or follow? by FTL · · Score: 4, Funny
    > just awarded a $2.5 million contract to build a prototype of a large robot dog that would follow soldiers into battle

    If I were a soldier, the first thing I'd do is reprogram my dog to walk ahead of me, not behind me. Let it step on the landmines, absorb enemy fire, etc.

    Oh wait, this robot is worth $2.5m, eh? Ah, now I understand why the soldier is in front.

    --
    Slashdot monitor for your Mozilla sidebar or Active Desktop.
  13. REAL Bunker Busters by Garg · · Score: 3, Funny

    I wonder if they're looking into giant robot anteaters as an alternative to costly bunker-buster bombs?

    How about AT-AT's?

    Garg

    --
    Garg
    Alumnus, Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters
    1. Re:REAL Bunker Busters by CreateWindowEx · · Score: 2, Funny
      While they did have a certain psychological intimidation factor, AT-ATs were eventually abandoned by the Empire in favor of more conventional vehicles. After numerous cost overruns, mechanical failures, poor fuel economy, and a well-publicized "entanglement" fiasco, the controversial giant legged machines were deemed unworkable after sinking hundreds of billions into research and development, and they returned to more conventional wheeled vehicles.

      At present time, working AT-ATs are extremely rare, although I did see one of the civilian variants for sale recently on eBay. (these "Atters" were equipped with DVD players and leather seats instead of lasers and armor plating, and were briefly popular with wealthy suburbanites). A gas-electric hybrid version of the smaller AT-ST, co-developed with Honda and aimed at urban drivers, was briefly offered, but sales were disappointing.

  14. Carrying stuff and taking bullets? by Theatetus · · Score: 2, Funny

    I thought that's what E3's were for. Won't we be putting all our PFC's and Lance Corporals out of work?

    --
    All's true that is mistrusted
  15. Potential problem with giant AIBO by mfender9 · · Score: 1, Funny

    RoboDog: AiBone detected. Pick up AiBone.
    Field Marshall: No! Stop! That's a landmine! It's just been painted pink to confuse you!
    RoboDog: *boom*

  16. Re:Why not.. by YetAnotherDave · · Score: 2, Funny

    this reminds me of the 'zero gravity pen' that the US spend a ton of money on, while the soviets used pencils...

  17. Re:Your tax dollars at work... by pantycrickets · · Score: 2, Funny

    Why not just use a real dog?

    It's much more efficient, easier to fuel, infinitely more intelligent, far less expensive

    And they taste good too!

  18. Well... by Dr.+Bent · · Score: 2, Funny

    I, for one, welcome our new robotic canine...ah fuck it. This isn't fun anymore.

  19. Re:Why not.. by jonpublic · · Score: 3, Funny

    Why not work on GIANT KILLER robot soliders? If your going for robots, you might as well go all the way. I hear the Japanese have some interesting designs for giant robots. Something about a facination with them.

  20. That's not muffet.... by fiannaFailMan · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...it isn't even a real dagget!

    --
    Drill baby drill - on Mars
  21. On the other hand... by mangu · · Score: 2, Funny

    A mule can be far more difficult to control and less reliable than even an MS-Windows based robot.

  22. Envisioning a lots of problems by asciimonster · · Score: 2, Funny

    For instance, I sure hope that robo-dog doesn't fetch the boms I launch at the enemy...

  23. If you think a robotic dog is cool... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...wait till you see the Army's $349,000 pooper scoopers for said dogs.

  24. Re:Why not.. by four2five · · Score: 4, Funny

    But then we'd h ave to agree with other countries as to what color our lazer weapons would be( USA = red, russia = blue, france = pink, etc.) so we can finally have a full scale GI Joe-esque presentation. If you've going to have war you need to see who's winning.


    Does this mean we'd have a robo-geraldo "entrenched" with the other robots?

    --
    -or so you'd think
  25. Giant anteaters? by Jerf · · Score: 4, Funny

    I wonder if they're looking into giant robot anteaters as an alternative to costly bunker-buster bombs?

    Licking terrorists to death is probably SOME violation of the Geneva Convention!

  26. Then Lancelot, Galahad and I... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    ...wait until nightfall, and then leap out of the dog, taking the French by surprise. Not only by surprise, but totally unarmed!

    Oh. Um, l-- look, i-- i-- if we built this large robotic badger--

  27. Re:Why not.. by That's+Unpossible! · · Score: 4, Funny

    It also had to work in the extreme conditions of outer space:
    In a vacuum. - With no gravity. - In hot temperatures of +150C in sunlight and also in the cold shadows of space where the temperatures drop to -120C."

    Hopefully they meant it had to work AFTER BEING IN the extreme conditions of space. Because if anyone ever makes me write something when it is -120C, I think I may stab them with the pen instead.

    --
    Ironically, the word ironically is often used incorrectly.
  28. They work well until by wiredog · · Score: 2, Funny

    Some damned Rebel Flyer wraps a cable around the legs.

    --

    Best Slashdot Co
  29. Re:Why not.. by magarity · · Score: 5, Funny

    Why not work on GIANT KILLER robot soliders?

    Egos not withstanding, the various punk warlords around the world that give us problems are not really giants. Indeed, since Ulysses blinded the Cyclops, giants haven't caused any trouble for the most part. So robot soldiers need to just kill regular sized people.

  30. Obligatory Simpson's quote: by roman_mir · · Score: 2, Funny

    The wars of the future will not be fought on the battlefield or at sea.
    They will be fought in space, or possibly on top of a very tall
    mountain. In either case, most of the actual fighting will be done by
    small robots. And as you go forth today remember always your duty is
    clear: To build and maintain those robots. Thank you.
    -- Military school Commandant's graduation address, "The Secret War of
    Lisa Simpson"

    What is funny is that we are already building so many robots to kill people, like cruise missiles for example, drone spy planes etc. Where has the Asimov's idea of the three robotics laws gone?

    --
    You can't handle the truth.
  31. Re:Why not.. by jonpublic · · Score: 3, Funny

    aha! I should have said, KILLER GIANT robot soliders to clarify. The soliders should be robots, and giant, and killers. Good point about there not being any giants causing trouble anymore.

  32. Re:Why not.. by Valdrax · · Score: 5, Funny

    But then we'd h ave to agree with other countries as to what color our lazer weapons would be( USA = red, russia = blue, france = pink, etc.) ...

    No, no, no! Don't you know the laws of movie physics! Good is higher than evil on the on the electromagnetic spectrum. That's why good guys always use blue energy and bad guys always use red energy. Using red lasers would make US the evil empire, instead of... of...

    I, uh.. hey, what's that's shiny distraction over there!

    --
    If it's for-profit but free, you're not the customer -- you're the product (e.g., the Slashdot Beta's "audience").
  33. Re:Mercantilism at its finest by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Yeah, great, until they get tripped up by Ewoks!