Army's Veteran Bomb-Disposal Robot Now 'Packs Heat'

[MN_Strelok]

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jan2006/20060124_3999.html

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24, 2006 – A modified version of an Army robot that's used to thwart roadside bombs in Afghanistan and Iraq now packs a punch of its own.

The 3-foot-tall robot, known by the acronym SWORDS (Special Weapons Observation Remote Direct-Action System), can be seen at the Washington Auto Show at the Washington Convention Center here. The show started today and runs through Jan. 29. The robot is part of an Army exhibit.

The remote-controlled machine at the auto show is fitted with an M-249 machine gun and can travel up to 5 mph on its two tank-like tracks, said Army Sgt. 1st Class Jason Mero, an explosive ordnance disposal noncommissioned officer who has served in Iraq.

The gun-toting machine is derived from the battery-powered Talon robot, which has provided stalwart service alongside U.S. bomb-disposal squads in Afghanistan and Iraq, Mero said.

"I've used the Talon in Iraq," Mero said, noting the machines are operated via remote control from up to half -a mile away. "You usually use an EOD robot whenever there's an IED based along the side of the road."

The video camera-equipped Talon is used to scout an area in case terrorists decide to detonate the bomb to kill or injure U.S. servicemembers, he said. "It's better than getting a soldier blown up," Mero said. Blast-damaged robots can often be repaired and quickly returned to duty, he said.

Terrorists in Iraq likely will soon confront robots that can fight back, said Mero, who works for the U.S. Army's Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center at Picatinny Arsenal, N.J.

Armed robots like the one at the auto show are being field tested now. Pending successful testing they'll likely be deployed to Iraq sometime this year, he said.

The weapons on the SWORDS robot are fitted onto a universal mounting device, said Asad Khan, a project engineer at ARDEC who accompanied Meros to the auto show. "Right now, what you're seeing is the M-249 machine gun (version)," Khan said. "But, we can (also) use rockets, 40 mm grenade launchers, and the M-240 machine gun, as well as the M-16 rifle."

Weaponized robots equipped with night-vision and other gear could be employed for reconnaissance and other duties, Mero said, noting the SWORDS machine can be rapidly spun around in a complete circle.

Terrorists will likely think twice before engaging machine-gun-packing robots, Mero predicted. "You're not going to try to sneak up on it," Mero said, "and if you shoot at it, it's going to know right where you are."

A robotic FN MAG... I totally want one.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Terrorists will likely think twice before engaging machine-gun-packing robots, Mero predicted. "You're not going to try to sneak up on it," Mero said, "and if you shoot at it, it's going to know right where you are."

Terrorists think? Could've fooled me!

 

[telomerase]

That's right, Skynet will save us all from those scary Iraqi terrorists if we just keep the defense budget above $500 billion and start producing autonomous ground combat machines. I hear they're calling the next model the H-K.

At least that's what the Army says... personally, I suspect our replacement species will be derived from Japanese toys, not 20-years-obsolete milspec electronics.

 

[Creeping Incrementalism]

What we need in Iraq is ED-209. How do you say, "Put down your weapon, you have 30 seconds to comply" in Arabic?

 

[MN_Strelok]

That's right, Skynet will save us all from those scary Iraqi terrorists if we just keep the defense budget above $500 billion and start producing autonomous ground combat machines.

According to this article they're $230k apiece. But it also says they can mount a Ma Deuce. That's got to be worth something.

I, for one, welcome our new robot overlords.

 

[JAG2955]

I had the pleasure to play around with one of the new USMC robots, "Packbot." It is about the size of a medium sized piece of luggage, twin tracked, about forty pounds, it can climb stairs, flip itself over, raise it's "head", and is designed to be thrown over walls.

Quite a bit of fun, especially racing it up spiral staircases. It's designed for observation, not combat, however.

 

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

Cool, perhaps. But why??? Are the Iraqis shooting at our robots or something? Do they need to defend themselves?

 

[50caliber123]

After watching the terminator movies all my life, this makes me nervous. I don not like machines that can think and kill people. I vote we start a resistance movement!

 

[heisler]

I've been watching this project unfold for a year or two now. I think it's just about the coolest piece of military hardware ever developed. I can't wait until the first footage of a robotic combat engagement finds its way onto the internet. I'm wondering how well it'll hold up against enemy fire.

I'm really curious about the legality of a civilian building a homebrew version. Does anyone know if it's legal or not to operate a firearm via remote control? It could make for some interesting Battlebots matches.

 

[EZ CZ75]

Check out www.live-shot.com. You can shoot at a range from your computer. Kind of cool and silly at the same time considering I can shoot a minigun in multiple FPS games at neater targets for the same price.

 

[mbs357]

ED scares the crap out of me.
Well, I don't cry when the movie comes on, but imagine seeing something like that in real life.
Something about that...sport on the front looks like a large angry mouth and the black section looks like angry eyebrows...or something.
It's scary!
Wah!

Also, I wonder if these Army type dudes come up with the acronyms before the meaning.
"Hey, let's call it SWORDS! Special Weapons...operation...onery..."

 

[Kharn]

ED scares the crap out of me.
Also, I wonder if these Army type dudes come up with the acronyms before the meaning.
"Hey, let's call it SWORDS! Special Weapons...operation...onery..."

Many times in the military acquisition system, its all about how cool the name of your program is. Another service could have an even better program, but if you have the "cooler" acronym, your project gets the nod and their project gets assimiliated into yours or outright canceled.

I know guys that have spent several weeks in a row trying to figure out the best acronym for their project. :banghead:

Kharn

 

[TarpleyG]

Next stage...replace all the ground troops with Asimos armed with carbines.

http://world.honda.com/ASIMO/

Greg

 

[ChevellRCR]

Kinda reminds me of the robots on Short Circuit.

 

[Creeping Incrementalism]

Kinda reminds me of the robots on Short Circuit.

They've actually nicknamed them "Johnny 5".

But I think you need something more intimidating to deal with these insurgents, and that's why ED-209 would get my vote.

 

[Thain]

According to my sources, the British have begun a similar program.

 

[Silent Bob]

 

[GTSteve03]

According to my sources, the British have begun a similar program.

EXTERMINATE!

 

[c_yeager]

Cool, perhaps. But why??? Are the Iraqis shooting at our robots or something? Do they need to defend themselves?

No but they are shooting at our soldiers and robots are cheaper to train and easier to fix.