February 08, 2012 11:59am ETRobotic Mule Follows Soldiers Like a Huge Dog LS3 & BigDog robot Boston Dynamics DARPA robots

The LS3 robot funded by DARPA is a faster, quieter version of Boston Dynamics' BigDog robot. Credit: DARPA View full size image

U.S. troops who carry as much as 100 pounds of gear could soon get a robotic mule capable of shouldering their burdens in the toughest terrain. Such a robot recently showed how it can follow a person and navigate around trees and rocks while climbing a hill in its first outdoor test — but it might someday follow spoken commands like a huge, obedient dog.

The four-legged, headless "LS3" robot evolved as the quieter, faster and tougher version of Boston Dynamics' "BigDog" robot funded by the U.S. military's DARPA research arm. Upcoming trials will test the robot's ability to carry 400 pounds on a tough 20-mile trek without any refueling for 24 hours.

"If successful, this could provide real value to a squad while addressing the military’s concern for unburdening troops," said Army Lt. Col. Joe Hitt, program manager for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). "LS3 seeks to have the responsiveness of a trained animal and the carrying capacity of a mule."

Added "hearing" technology could even allow human squad members to issue spoken commands such as "stop," "sit" or "come here."

The LS3 robot also acts as a mobile charging station for troops to recharge batteries for their radios, tablets or laptops while on patrol. That makes a huge difference when today's Marine platoon carries 30 to 50 radios on patrol in Afghanistan, compared with just two or three radios during the Vietnam War.

DARPA just released a video showing the robot standing up from a sitting position and following a person walking up a hill during its first outdoor test. If everything goes well, a full 18 months of tests starting this summer will end with the robot going out on field exercises with the Marines.

Such a walking robot would join robotic helicopters already flying test missions to resupply Marines in Afghanistan. Those helicopters still need trained human operators to control them remotely, but eventually they may become fully autonomous aircraft capable of flying on their own.

机器人大兵像个巨大的狗一样跟随着士兵

2012年2月8日上午11:59 ETRobotic骡子跟随士兵像一个巨大的狗LS3和放大器;大狗机器人波士顿动力DARPA robots 由DARPA资助的LS3机器人是波士顿动力公司的大狗机器人的速度更快，更安静的版本。图片来源：DARPA查看原图

美国谁进行尽可能多的可达100英镑齿轮的部队将很快得到能够承担他们的负担在最艰难的地形的机器人骡子。这种机器人最近发现它如何能跟着一个人，浏览周围的树木和岩石攀爬，同时在它的第一个户外测试及注释 - 希尔;但它可能有一天跟着口头命令，像一个巨大的，听话的狗.

四条腿，无头＆QUOT; LS3＆QUOT;机器人逐渐成为波士顿动力公司＆QUOT的更安静，更快速，更严厉的版本;大狗＆QUOT;机器人由美军的DARPA研究机构资助。即将进行的审判将测试机器人的以搭载400名英镑一个艰难的20英里的长途跋涉，没有任何加油24小时.

u0026 QUOT能力;如果成功的话，这可以提供真正的价值，以一个小队，同时解决军事大局;关注unburdening部队，＆QUOT;陆军说中校乔·希特，项目经理国防高级研究计划局（DARPA）。 ＆QUOT; LS3力求有一个训练有素的动物的反应能力和骡子的承载能力和QUOT;

添加＆QUOT;听力＆QUOT;技术甚至可以让人类的小队成员发出语音命令，例如＆QUOT;阻止，＆QUOT; ＆QUOT;坐＆QUOT;或QUOT;。来这里与QUOT;

的LS3机器人还可以作为一个移动充电站部队充电电池在巡逻时他们的收音机，平板电脑或笔记本电脑。这使得一个巨大的差异，当今天的海洋排进行30至50无线电巡逻在阿富汗，与刚刚发布的一个视频显示，机器人从坐姿站起来跟随越南战争.

DARPA在短短两三年的收音机相比，人走了一座小山它的第一个户外测试过程中。如果一切顺利，整整18个月开始今年夏天的测试将与机器人走出去实地演习的海军陆战队结束.

这样的行走机器人将加入机器人直升机已经飞行试验任务提供补给海军陆战队员在阿富汗。这些直升机还需要训练有素的人力运营商进行远程控制他们，但他们最终可能会变得完全自主的飞机能飞对自己的.