Tuesday, April 1, 2014

The Pentagon Wants Its Creepy Robot Horse To Be Silent And Bulletproof


Big_dog_military_robots




Boston Dynamics continues to "improve" its Big Dog robot. Not content with giving it an arm for a head that can throw cinder blocks, the Pentagon has asked for the Big Dog to be more quiet. Also bulletproof. OH GOODY.



The LS3 Support System, better known to robophiles (as in people who like robots, not our own admittedly highly loveable Robopanda) as "Big Dog", just got an extra ten million in funding from DARPA. Why?



Within the general scope of work of Phase 2, the modification adds additional tasks to the contract for the development of an enhanced version of the LS3 system with increased reliability and usability, enhanced survivability against small arms fire and a quiet power supply to support stealthy tactical operations.



Just to review, Big Dog can already do this:



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But, as you can tell, that whole repetitive tap-tap thing makes it impossible for this thing to sneak up behind you, grab you by the neck, and strangle you. So, by all means, let's get on that thing! Silent superstrong nightmare fuel, your tax dollars at work!



Hey, while we're at it, can we fit it with a saddle so Boston Dynamics' other terrifying robot, Atlas, so one can ride the other like a horse? A Terminator atop a robot horse with a face-hand that can throw things would be an awesome thing to see right before it inevitably kills you.



Of course, this might not be the last thing you see, considering that recently an F-16 fighter jet was converted to fly completely unmanned and remotely. So you actually might suddenly dissolve in a red mist courtesy of robo-Maverick.



So, uh, anybody want to help me build a whole bunch of extremely powerful electromagnets? I'll let you live in my compound!


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