A New Workhorse For DARPA

Roland Piquepaille writes "Later this month, Carnegie Mellon University and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) will unveil the successor of the Spinner, a 7-ton unmanned robotic vehicle. Dubbed Crusher, this new 6.5-ton robot will be able to carry payloads of up to 2 tons on very complex terrains. Crusher will rely on surrounding sensors to keep its balance and learn about its environment. After intensive testings, it should start to perform its duties in 2008. Read more for additional details and pictures of Spinner and Crusher in action." However, I can see they have not yet performed the test of having Sigourney Weaver fight a hitchhiking alien with it, which is obviously crucial to our national defense.

Interesting, but...

[voice_of_all_reason]

Can they transform and combine to form Devastator http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constructicons [wikipedia.org] yet?

From TFA

[Anonymous Coward]

"The future of war will be unmanned."

What I think they mean is,

The wars of the future will not be fought on the battlefield or at sea. They will be fought in space, or possibly on top of a very tall mountain. In either case, most of the actual fighting will be done by small robots. And as you go forth today, remember always your duty is clear: To build and maintain those robots. Thank you.

Re:Spiner, Crusher?

[thewrathoffluffy]

I for one welcome our...

...ah nevermind... There's no way this can be marked +5 Funny anymore...

Pic

[Hogwash McFly]

Here's a pic of the robot in action [nyud.net]

Consumer Version

[VJTod]

Uh... So when are we going to see a consumer version of this beast? Ala, the Jeep and the Hummer.

Awww, c'mon!

[Trelane]

Spinner and Crusher in action

Am I the only one wishing they'd paint the latter one pink, give it a big feather boa, and call it "The Crushinator"?

Is it capable of launching a nuclear weapon?

[cloneofsnake]

If not, we can't call it Metal Gear yet. (Which means FOXHOUND won't highjack it and the DARPA chief is safe till then.)

Re:Pic

[Minwee]

I liked the original look [killbots.com] better.

Pak chooie unf

[CamShaft]

Do not trust the crusher robot
He is malfunctioning
Do you have stairs in your house?

Futurama gets it right once again

[Derivin]

The Crushinator (http://tfp.killbots.com/scans/223_crushinator.png [killbots.com]) is real.

Re:What happens when

[NiteShaed]

...and the thing figures out its payload/mission will destroy it?

Just tell it that it will get 72 virgin-bots in the robotic afterlife for carrying out its mission. Seems to work well enough for the human version of the scenario you just described...

Re:Spiner, Crusher?

[master_p]

At first, it was Spinner. Then the new model will be named Crusher. The next one will be named...

Picard!

And not only it will be able to carry a great weight to battle, but it can also...

negotiate!

"WE COME IN PEACE"

and after a few minutes of negotiating:

"RESISTANCE IS FUTILE!"

The latter mode is also named 'Locutus'...