Robot Mule Put Out To Pasture By Marine Corps (nbcnews.com)

An anonymous reader sends word that the Marines have decided that Boston Dynamics' robotic pack mules are too noisy to use. NBC reports: The massive robotic mule developed by Alphabet-owned Boston Dynamics won't see combat with U.S. Marines. LS3 (Legged Squad Support Systems) was meant to carry cargo for weary soldiers in the field. Funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, the robot was capable of walking with 400 pounds of equipment on its back. LS3 could run for 24 hours straight on a 20-mile mission across rough terrain. No controller was needed; it took visual and verbal cues from soldiers to find its way. So why doesn't the Marine Corps want to use it? The robot's gas-powered engine isn't exactly the stealthiest piece of technology.

Comments

what's wrong with real mules?

[NostalgiaForInfinity]

Funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, the robot was capable of walking with 400 pounds of equipment on its back. LS3 could run for 24 hours straight on a 20-mile mission across rough terrain.

20 miles for 24h with 400 pounds of weight? Sorry, but those specs don't sound all that great compared to a real mule or pack horse.

Re:what's wrong with real mules?

[wonkey_monkey]

So a deaf horse. Sheesh. I gotta do all the thinkin' round here?

Re: what's wrong with real mules?

[Anonymous Coward]

So you teach the horse sign language....

Re:what's wrong with real mules?

[hey!]

Well, the US Army used mules regularly until 1957, and they're still used occasionally in special operations. The Marine Corps still conducts training in handling pack animals at it's mountain warfare training center.

Pack animals do make sense in limited situations, and mules are superior to horses in those situations because they require less and lower quality feed.

Re:what's wrong with real mules?

[perpenso]

Bioengineer a horse that can eat MREs and you'll have a quiet (but smelly) alternative to this robot.

No need to bioengineer, nature has already provided such horses. "She was fond of a wide variety of foodstuffs, entertaining the platoon by eating scrambled eggs and drinking Coca-Cola and beer. Food could not be left unattended around her. She was known to eat bacon, buttered toast, chocolate bars, hard candy, shredded wheat, peanut butter sandwiches and mashed potatoes."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

Just use a better muffler???

[halfdan the black]

I mean, seriously, its NOT THAT HARD to quiet an engine, they've been making diesels on subs quiet for 100 years now. Literally all you need is a better muffler, and add some sound proofing covering around the engine, maybe adds 10lbs at most.

Or, better yet, go with a small gas turbine, they're nearly silent, especially with a muffler, and can burn just about anything, diesel, gas, kerosene, you name it.

That's pretty damned idiotic throwing away a $30 million program because you didn't want to spend another few $100 on a muffler and some padding.

Re:Just use a better muffler???

[Shinobi]

Stealth isn't only about sound, it's also about visual signature, heat output etc.

maybe it was the wrong application

[nimbius]

Maybe stealth should be reconsidered when applied to robotics. Other applications should be considered. For example, imagine 230 of these robots, each as noisy as a lawnmower and as terrifying as war itself, charging over a hillside in bevis and butthead masks. And as a peacekeeping force they would be unsurpassed! either keep the peace, or we send these things back around christmas decked in flashing lights and dressed as bea arthur.

brotha, can you spare any crystite?

[Thud457]

damn thing kept getting spooked by lightning storms and running off with all my Smithore

Re:It'll get a new job: rescue & firefighting

[OrangeTide]

With its payload capacity, it could probably carry 40 gallons of water, that could make a big difference for a wildland firefighter.

Re:You idiots.

[tomhath]

No, they said it was a successful prototype and they intend to continue development on the next model, based in part on what they learned from this one. Normal R&D.

Re:No all supply missions require stealth

[Beezlebub33]

Yes, and I'm guessing this is all sour grapes.

Google doesn't do military applications. They bought Boston Dynamics and have told the military that they are not going to do any more military research. So, the military said, 'Well, we don't want it anyway, because it's too loud'. That gets Boston Dynamics out of the business and lets the Marines save face.