Darpa's Unmanned "Crusher"

Carnegie Mellon's new Unmanned Ground Combat Vehicle (UGCV) is called "Crusher".

It weights in at 6.5 tons, and should go into service in 2008, the next 2 years will be extensive field tests. The Spinner is its predecessor, which was also built by Carnegie Mellon, at a cost of 35 million. This vehicle is a direct bi-product of the Darpa Grand Challenge. It "sees" by using ladar (laser range finder) & stereo cameras, it also has a telescoping mast which enables covert surveillance, and it can climb over steps that are 4 feet high & 40 degree slopes, but if it does roll-over, it can still drive normal because its wheels can move up & down, so whether its upside down or right side up...its all the same!

Here’s a short video on it (how it sees):Crusher

This things suspension is truly amazing! It makes the Hummer look like a pavement only vehicle.

Picture Page
Video Page - (a must see)

Darpa's Smart, Mean, Off-Road Drone

Carnegie Mellon's National Robotics Engineering Center Unveils Futuristic Unmanned Ground Combat Vehicles

Since Crusher and its predecessor do not have to accommodate human crews, their novel designs offer unequaled ruggedness, mobility and payload-carrying capacity compared to manned vehicles in their weight class. Crusher's hull is made from high-strength aluminum tubes and titanium nodes protected by a steel skid plate that can absorb shocks from impacts with rocks or tree stumps. Its unique suspension enables it to move smoothly over extremely rough terrain and overcome obstacles like large ditches, man-made barriers or piles of boulders. It can carry more than 8,000 lbs. of payload and armor. Electric motors embedded in each of the vehicle's six wheels are powered with a hybrid system that uses a turbo diesel generator to recharge its batteries. Its top speed is currently 26 miles per hour.

[edit on 30-4-2006 by Murcielago]

no replies.

I though the video of this thing was Very impressive, and was also shocked that it will enter service in just 2 years.

forget unmanned, I wanna have a go at driving that thing!

Imagine one in your neighborhood - all "dollied up" with crowd control "stuff" - might just come in handy about - oh, I don't know... fall 2008?

Such devices' "strengths" may also be their "weakness"; any tele-operated or autonomous-goal-seeking device will depend on communication/sensor and software/hardware solutions.

Counter-measures for use against such devices may not be very difficult to conceive and execute. "Blind" it and then "butcher" out the CPU's and networking protocols ... might even be reverse engineered to serve those who it was sent against.

Seems we're about due for a new "warrior-caste" - that of "Robot-Fighter".

Thanx for the data,

Victor K.

Imagine one in your neighborhood - all "dollied up" with crowd control "stuff" - might just come in handy about - oh, I don't know... fall 2008?

Such devices' "strengths" may also be their "weakness"; any tele-operated or autonomous-goal-seeking device will depend on communication/sensor and software/hardware solutions.

Counter-measures for use against such devices may not be very difficult to conceive and execute. "Blind" it and then "butcher" out the CPU's and networking protocols ... might even be reverse engineered to serve those who it was sent against.

Seems we're about due for a new "warrior-caste" - that of "Robot-Fighter".

Thanx for the data,

Victor K.

Sorry double post - please remove. Thanx,
Victor K.

[edit on 30-4-2006 by V Kaminski]