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."

Comments

First Prototype

[Penguinshit]

Designated "GR3N4-DE"

U R Doing It Wrong

[IBitOBear]

The robots should be carrying the equipment and throwing each other.

The marines should be making the decisions and dodging the other guys robots.

Has anyone considered infants?

[Anonymous Coward]

They're about 10 pounds and very throwable.

Re:They should send in a giant robotic dog

[interkin3tic]

Actually sounds more like those spider robots from "Minority report."

Although it doesn't sound like they really want a "robot," they just want something they can throw into a room and see what's in there. Just put a durable webcam in a clear hampster ball. Or if you do need it to move around after thrown, put the webcam on a small RC car.

Marines: I expect a good chunk of your R&D budget for this design.

Re:10lbs...throwable?

[interkin3tic]

how far can you heave a 10lb weight into a situation that you can't see directly in front of you?

Further than I would want to throw myself if we're talking about into a room with a lot of angry men with guns. Also, I'm not in the same shape a marine would be, I'd expect a marine would be able to throw a 10lb weight further. The article specifically mentions "can see around corners inside buildings, sewers, drainpipes, caves, courtyards" so corners, not distances, and it sounds kind of like they're looking into remote controlled after being thrown.

Yet another rash judgement from someone didn't even RTFA, let alone knows the full story. But lets not let trivial details like facts we don't know stand in the way of our statement that fully half our military budget is completely dispensable.

(For the record, I'm a liberal and also dislike the amount we spend on the military. It's not that I'm biased in favor of dumping all our money on the military, you're just making us look dumb.)

As a former Active Duty Marine,

[Anonymous Coward]

I would prefer a *reliable* device that added *as little as possible* to the 70lbs I already carry, that "just works," even after I throw it, drop it, sit on it in sand and gets shot twice. If it still does the job, I'll buy the damn thing myself...

unfortunately, a lot of this tech doesn't work that well, that's why k-bars and bayonets are still issued.

Also, I agree that robots should be carrying gear so I can kick some $given_enemy butt.

CAPTCHA: "uncouth" coincidence?

It Exists! - The Scout from Recon Robotics

[Amadablam]

(Disclaimer: I'm not affiliated with this company, but I know somebody who is. I should talk to him about a "complimentary robot for referrals" program.) http://reconrobotics.com/ Recon Robotics makes a product called the Scout that is designed specifically for this purpose. Each robot weighs only 1.2 pounds, is deployable and easily controllable by a single soldier, and is relatively inexpensive compared to other combat-ready robot technologies. I know I want one. ;)

snakes on a battlefield

[SethJohnson]

No real joke intended here. But just an idea-- robotic snakes. The snake form factor does a lot better on rough terrain than anything based on wheels. If it is built to look like a real snake, it can also frighten enemies beyond belief. They can also be designed to be thrown up on telephone / power lines, hook on, then travel along the line while sending video back to the thrower. Power lines are a great vantage point.

Seth