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Marine Corps Wants a Throwable Robot

coondoggie writes "The US Marine Corps has a request — build and rapidly deploy more 10lb-or-under robots its personnel can throw into dangerous situations that can quickly gather information without endangering Marines. The throwable robot is part of a family of robots that would range from the 10lb version to one that would act as a central controlling device and weigh close to 300lbs. Marine commanders are demanding ever lighter robots so that troops don't have to offload critical equipment from their rucksacks to accommodate them."

22 of 270 comments (clear)

  1. First Prototype by Penguinshit · · Score: 5, Funny

    Designated "GR3N4-DE"

  2. Oh great by Misanthrope · · Score: 2, Funny

    Just what George Lucas needs to hear about...

  3. Has anyone considered infants? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    They're about 10 pounds and very throwable.

    1. Re:Has anyone considered infants? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      And they can be used as a food source in an emergency.

  4. Re:But that's against the law... by Dr_Ken · · Score: 3, Funny

    Naw. Skynet repealed those laws.

    --
    "If you want to know what happens to you when you die, go look at some dead stuff."
  5. Existing solution by bobdotorg · · Score: 4, Funny

    Why not just arm one of these.

    --
    __ Someday, but not this morning, I'll finally learn to use the preview button.
    1. Re:Existing solution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Paint them orange and...

      Oompa, loompa, oomptiddy do...

      If you attack a marine,

      you will get it too..

      What do you get when you arm a child?

      a machine gunning BRAT!

      Oompa loompa ...

  6. Re:Good idea. by squidinkcalligraphy · · Score: 2, Funny

    In Soviet Russia, robot throws you!

    --
    "I think it would be a good idea" Gandhi, on Western Civilisation
  7. Re:They should send in a giant robotic dog by c6gunner · · Score: 2, Funny

    Just put a durable webcam in a clear hampster ball.

    Obligatory XKCD link.

  8. Re:But that's against the law... by Macrat · · Score: 3, Funny

    And the other police directives:

    1. "Serve the public trust"
    2. "Protect the innocent"
    3. "Uphold the law"
    4. (Classified) "any attempt to arrest a senior OCP employee results in shutdown"
  9. Throwable? That's easy. by SoundGuyNoise · · Score: 4, Funny

    All robots are throwable. The key is, you have to find the one that handles the landings better than the rest.

    --
    You never expect irony, do you?
    Want to be a professional wrestler? Visit www.iyfwrestling.com
    @iyfwrestling
  10. Re:They should send in a giant robotic dog by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    A visual display could be distracting in a live fire situation. Perhaps some sort of loud, auditory signal...

  11. Re:Um... they have one already by The_mad_linguist · · Score: 2, Funny

    Um... LEGO beat them to it.

    http://lego.wikia.com/wiki/Throwbots

  12. Robot - I choose you! by dbIII · · Score: 4, Funny

    It would be ideal if the robot comes in a little ball or is ball shaped and unfolds. Being able to announce it's name for identification is a bonus. Being bright yellow for visability and being able to electricute even the entire crew of a helicopter would certainly stop any team with rockets.

  13. Re:U R Doing It Wrong by Hurricane78 · · Score: 1, Funny

    How about a robot that throws the marines. Preferably out of your country. ^^

    --
    Any sufficiently advanced intelligence is indistinguishable from stupidity.
  14. Re:U R Doing It Wrong by Artifakt · · Score: 3, Funny

    When I read as far as the header, I thought you were going to say the robots should throw the Marines into the rooms. (And that part of the brain that still retains my old drill instructor's best routines said "makes sense"...).

    --
    Who is John Cabal?
  15. Re:U R Doing It Wrong by ToasterMonkey · · Score: 2, Funny

    Sounds good, who are the unlucky fucks we're landing on?

  16. Re:They should send in a giant robotic dog by Hognoxious · · Score: 2, Funny

    No, that's a hamster ball. You can't take it on a picnic.

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  17. Re:Good idea. by your_neighbor · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hmmm.... now I understand the new military project from Apple! http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/08/12/yet-another-exploding-iphone/

  18. Re:They should send in a giant robotic dog by mdwh2 · · Score: 2, Funny

    I believe normal procedure upon encountering a mine is to jump two hundred feet into the air and scatter yourself over a wide area.

  19. Re:Waste of energy by Tetsujin · · Score: 2, Funny

    Can't they just use cats with cameras strapped to their heads?

    Yes! Extremely well-trained, obedient cats who will bravely follow instructions to the letter even in the harshest, most dangerous environments...

    I like this idea. I am confident that no flaws will be found in it.

    --
    Bow-ties are cool.
  20. Re:10lbs...throwable? by t0rkm3 · · Score: 2, Funny

    I know, from personal experience... competition-wise that I can throw a 28lbs object 72 feet and change. With a wind and one-step? 54feet last night (on a lark, demonstrating a primitive technique)

    10lbs?? Might as well make me an arty unit.