Boston Dynamics is best known for their Big Dog robot, but they’ve created a number of different robots. Recently they set a new land speed record for legged robots when their Cheetah hit 18mph. Check out the video:
The Cheetah is funded through DARPA’s Maximum Mobility and Manipulation program, and while this unit is a tethered lab prototype testing of an untethered, free-running version is planned for later this year. They’ve also developed various robots for specialized tasks, such as battlefield reconnaissance or looking for survivors in the rubble after a disaster. One of those is the RHex, funded by the US Army’s Rapid Equipping Force:
It is a pretty funky design, but clearly functional as it clambers all over rough terrain. It handles it better than standard wheeled or tracked designs, without the complexity of legs. But one of the funkiest is the Sand Flea, also funded by the US Army’s Rapid Equipping Force. It is a wheeled robot, with a special trick up its sleeve. Check out the video to see for yourself:
Boston Dynamics has done some amazing work in robotics, I look forward to seeing what they come up with next.
Lockheed Martin is involved in more than aerospace, they’re also one of the vendors producing a Littoral Combat Ship design for the US Navy. They’ve released a video highlighting the LCS and showing off some of its capabilities.
They also released a video touting their offering for the Navy’s next generation radar, the Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR). It is a pretty computer animation, showing off the planned capabilities.
I’m not sure where they dredged this up from, but AgencySpy posted this video that purports to tell the tale of the secret origin of the Slingbox. It was clearly made a while ago as Blake Krikorian hasn’t been CEO since he left in January, 2009. There is one glaring continuity error though, can you spot it?
Lockheed Martin released an interesting video on their Cormorant submarine launched MPUAV (Multi-Purpose Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) program. That’s right, submarine launched. This program was funded by DARPA and was actually cancelled back in 2008 due to budget cuts, but it is still interesting. I don’t think I’d even seen video of the design before, though this video is dated 2008. The idea came from trying to find new uses for the US Navy’s SSBNs (aka missile subs). Under arms reduction treaties the US Navy has four Ohio class SSBNs which must no longer carry SLBMs (Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles), but which have plenty of service life left.
Several concepts were floated, and in the end it was decided to convert these four boats into SSGNs, carrying up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles instead of the 24 Trident ballistic missiles. 22 of the missile tubes have been retrofitted with a vertical launch system that can hold up to seven Tomahawks each, or other ordinance (7 x 22 = 154). The other two tubes have been converted into swimmer lockout chambers for the deployment and recovering of SEAL teams.
One of the concepts for the missile tubes was for a submarine launched UAV which could support special warfare operations, perform reconnaissance and targeting, etc. The missile tubes are 44 feet long, but only seven feet in diameter. This necessitated creating a folding design so the UAV could be packed into the tube yet still have enough wing area. Since a submarine’s greatest asset is stealth the UAV needed to be launched while the sub remained submerged. This required a design that was water tight – including the engine, corrosion resistant – salt water after all, and crush resistant – lots of force from the water pressure at launch depth.
Lockheed Martin’s design features an oddly cranked wing which gives the Cormorant more wing area while keeping for a compact size while folded. For launch the MPUAV would have been raised from the tube, then unfolded and released to rise to the surface under natural buoyancy while the sub slipped away. The MPUAV would pop clear of the surface like a cork and rocket boosters would propel it into the sky. Once clear of the water the engine inlet and exhaust doors would open and the turbofan engine would fire to sustain flight.
At the completion of its mission the Cormorant would have flown back to a rendezvous location, sealed itself back up, and parachuted into the water. A remotely operated vehicle (ROV) would swim up from the sub with a cable and attach it to a cable deployed from the MPUAV upon landing. The MPUAV would then be winched back to its cradle and stowed back in the tube.
It is a very clever and unique design, and under the DARPA program they build models and testing the launch and recovery procedure. It is all pretty interesting stuff, and seen in the video. Check it out:
Boston Dynamics is best known for their Big Dog robot, but they’ve created a number of different robots. Recently they set a new land speed record for legged robots when their Cheetah hit 18mph. Check out the video:
