| Clipped from: IEEE Spectrum: Boston Dynamics Wins Darpa Contract To Develop LS3 Robot Mule (It's a Bigger BigDog) |
Boston Dynamics Wins Darpa Contract To Develop LS3 Robot Mule (It's a Bigger BigDog)
A bigger BigDog is coming.Boston Dynamics, developer of BigDog and PETMAN, announced today that it has won a Darpa contract to develop a new robot mule to help soldiers on foot carry gear in the field.
The robot, called Legged Squad Support System, or LS3, will be able to navigate rough terrain, carrying 180 kilograms (~400 pounds) of load and enough fuel for missions covering 32 kilometers (~20 miles) and lasting 24 hours.
| Clipped from: Boston Dynamics: Dedicated to the Science and Art of How Things Move. |
LS3 - Legged Squad Support Systems
LS3 is a dynamic robot designed to go anywhere Soldiers and Marines go on foot. Each LS3 will carry up to 400 lbs of gear and enough fuel for missions covering 20 miles and lasting 24 hours. LS3 will not need a driver, because it will automatically follow a leader using computer vision or travel to designated locations using sensing and GPS. The development of LS3 will take 30 months, with first walk out scheduled for 2012. The development of LS3 is being funded by DARPA and the US Marine Corps.
| Clipped from: DARPA Begins Legged Squad Support System Program |
DARPA Begins Legged Squad Support System Program
Following this initial LS3 design and build phase, DARPA and the Marine Corps will review the results and determine future program phases that may lead to full LS3 integration and experimentation with operational platforms.
The program is a joint effort between DARPA's Tactical Technology Office (TTO) and the U.S. Marine Corps Warfighting Lab (MCWL). The program goal is to develop a walking quadruped platform that will augment squads by carrying traditional and new equipment autonomously.
These platforms will be capable of managing complex terrain where tactical vehicles are not able to go-lightening the load of Marines and Soldiers and increasing their combat capability.
These platforms will be capable of managing complex terrain where tactical vehicles are not able to go-lightening the load of Marines and Soldiers and increasing their combat capability.
| Clipped from: DARPA Develops 4-Legged Robot to Haul Equipment Over Rugged Terrain |
Key characteristics of the LS3 program include:
- Quadruped platform development: a deployable walking platform with sufficient payload capacity, range, endurance, and low noise signature for dismounted squad support, while keeping weight and volume scaled to the squad level.
- Walking control: control techniques that allow walking, trotting, and running/ bounding and capabilities to jump obstacles, cross ditches, recover from disturbances, and other discrete mobility features.
- User interface (to include perception technologies): the ability for the robot to perceive and traverse its immediate terrain environment autonomously with simple methods of control.
Sources:
- IEEE Spectrum: Boston Dynamics Wins Darpa Contract To Develop LS3 Robot Mule (It's a Bigger BigDog)
- YouTube - Boston Dynamics Big Dog (new video March 2008)
- Boston Dynamics: Dedicated to the Science and Art of How Things Move.
- DARPA Begins Legged Squad Support System Program
- DARPA Develops 4-Legged Robot to Haul Equipment Over Rugged Terrain
- DARPA - Tactical Technology Office (TTO)
- Robot Pack Mule to Carry Loads for G.I.s on the Move: Scientific American
- Legged Squad Support System Monster BigDog Robot: Science Fiction in the News
- BigDog Is Going to War - ls3 - Gizmodo
- Legged Squad Support System (LS3) - DARPA-BAA-08-71 (Archived) - Federal Business Opportunities: Opportunities
