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MrBlahBlah
02/26/09

In reply to Big Dog Army Robot Will Change the Face of War Forever
but all you have to do to disable it is flip it over!
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Nick Denton
02/26/09

In reply to Big Dog Army Robot Will Change the Face of War Forever
Isn't the most interesting thing about this report the suggested use of Big Dog? Military robots are supposed to be bristling with armaments, Terminators in the making. But the likely first use of this device is as a 21st century packhorse: to shoulder some of the heavy modern equipment that modern infantrymen have to lug around with them.
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Pope John Peeps II
02/26/09

In reply to Big Dog Army Robot Will Change the Face of War Forever
You know, if a robot is actually wandering around physically, I don't think you're still able to say "it just may be the stuff of science fiction".

In conclusion: that army guy is stupid.
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Sora57 is rendering
02/26/09

In reply to Big Dog Army Robot Will Change the Face of War Forever
The way it moves it's feet while in one spot makes it looks like it needs to pee.

Also, couldn't this be easily defeated by strategically released marbles?
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JawzX2: Hoon The Earth @ www.cafepress.com/jawzx2
02/26/09

@Sora57: watch the original video (linked in the artical) to see it thwart all attempts to make it fall including ice and a good swift kick.
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Sora57 is rendering
02/26/09

@JawzX2: Yes, I saw the swift kick in the video, but a tidal wave of marbles would be much more effective.
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Jrsy Devil's Advocate®
02/26/09

In reply to Big Dog Army Robot Will Change the Face of War Forever
Who's the dog now man, or something like that..

Very cool. Now just throw a 6 shot surface-to-air rocket launcher on it's back and and a way for the soldiers to operate with an Xbox...
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citizen024
02/26/09

In reply to Big Dog Army Robot Will Change the Face of War Forever
they call this amazing?, I'll take a yak or camel,(just put kevlar on em and they'll be just as durable).
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Noah Mayer
02/26/09

@citizen024: I would like to agree, but I doubt soldiers want to worry about feeding, cleaning, and housing a real animal. Once they get this thing running on silent methanol (or JP8?) fuel cells and able to spring as fast as soldiers, it will be a set-and-forget kind of deal.

I can imagine in the future smaller 2 legged versions for each soldier. That would be cute, bunch of tiny 2 legged robots following each soldier around like dogs.
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Hello Mister Walrus
02/26/09

@Noah Mayer: You need to worry about feeding, cleaning and housing robots too.
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Sora57 is rendering
02/26/09

@citizen024: I agree with the others about feeding/cleaning, but also this thing can presumably supply the nearby soldiers with data its collecting (visuals) and be armed to fire weapons when conditions allow. Also a loud noise (explosion) might startle a yak into running way. The positives for Yaks are: they are much more stealthy right now and they can keep you warm on those cold, lonely nights. Not that I know that, I just assume. Really.
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Hello Mister Walrus
02/26/09

In reply to Big Dog Army Robot Will Change the Face of War Forever
Ok people - get it out of your system. Insert all terminator jokes here:
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Samifumi
02/26/09

In reply to Big Dog Army Robot Will Change the Face of War Forever
Looks like a mini-AT-AT, but then again, I'm sure that observation has already been made.
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CrispyAardvark
02/26/09

@Samifumi:

I'd love one of the developers to make a carboard AT-AT "costume" for it, just for a laugh. It's probably not far off scale from the Snow Speeder toys. Now if only those were radio control we could have a scale Hoth re-enactment!
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GitEmSteveDave_Isn'tFreshPerked
02/26/09

@CrispyAardvark: You could also paint it gold and add a iPod dock to it!
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GitEmSteveDave_Isn'tFreshPerked
02/26/09

In reply to Big Dog Army Robot Will Change the Face of War Forever
Just have it run at the enemy, and make all the noise it wants. If they are anything like my cats and my Roomba, they will come to look at it, then run away when it comes at them. Strap some bacon to it, point it towards the enemy, and hit the forward button.
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