Marines’ LS3 robotic mule is too loud for real-world combat

Re:Marines’ LS3 robotic mule is too loud for real-world combat by crusso on Tuesday December 29, 2015 @06:54PM (#10809884)

The noise level was a pretty obviously non-negotiable flaw in the mule from early on. You'd think that someone would have pointed that out before dumping $42M into it.

I wonder if there were plans to reduce the noise in the unit that never worked out.

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Re:Marines’ LS3 robotic mule is too loud for real-world combat by moftz on Tuesday December 29, 2015 @10:48PM (#10810586)

There are electric versions by Boston Dynamics but they carry less weight which probably disqualifies them from the project. I'm sure someone was hoping that the firms involved would pump out an all electric version that could meet everything but it just wasn't feasible within the parameters.

I remember in one of the Ghost Recon Advanced Warfare games, there is a mini cooper sized APC looking thing that would carry supplies. It would either follow the player or could be controlled. I think that would be a better solution. A gas electric hybrid offroad vehicle would be pretty cool. It could carry supplies or serve as an automated medevac and still be silent in electric mode.

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Re:Marines’ LS3 robotic mule is too loud for real-world combat by hexscrews on Tuesday December 29, 2015 @08:58PM (#10810296)

I think it was more for the practical research rather than actual use. Human response, movement tests, acceptable noise levels etc. All of that is very valuable in of itself.

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