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America's Robot Army

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the the-few-the-proud-the-computational dept.

Popular Mechanics explores the increasing level of reliance the US military has when it comes to robotic assistance. In the last few years, robot drones have reached an all-new level of sophistication, with several models already deployed in the field. Now, the next generation of robot helpers is nearing the end of its test phase. PM offers up a preview of what we could expect to see in the field within the next five years. "The MULE (Multifunction Utility/Logistics and Equipment) is roughly the size of a Humvee, but it has a trick worthy of monster truck rallies. Each of its six wheels is mounted on an articulated leg, allowing the robot to clamber up obstacles that other cars would simply bump against ... Barely a year old, the prototype is a product of the Army's Unmanned Ground Vehicle program, which began in 2001. It has yet to fire a single bullet or missile, or even be fitted with a weapon. Here at the test track it's loaded down with rucksacks and boxes, two squads' worth of equipment."

2 of 139 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Robots? by VirusEqualsVeryYes · · Score: 3, Informative

    You might try telling that to NASA.

  2. Re:Bring it to consumers by Animats · · Score: 2, Informative

    with separate electric motors for each wheel then you must have a way to synchronize all the motors to run at the same speed... i would be willing to bet the electronic that would go in to a system would be plenty complicated, not impossible - but not a brainless task either...

    Code for that is in most of the better vehicle traction and stability control systems right now. Ordinary cars now have two axes of rate gyro, steering wheel sensors, wheel encoders, and computer-controlled individual wheel braking.