The Beginning of Science Fact

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Battletech fans, rejoice! While not very fast, and lacking balance systems and hydraulic arms, this is definetly something to look forward to.

http://www.sakakibara-kikai.co.jp/products/other/LW.htm

Please, check this out.

 

It looks cool, but you'd be a ripe target sitting in one of those things...

 

Although not the right legs, Flea football anyone?

 

Sweeet. I want one!

 

@SirBelisarius: Actually, if it was heavily armored, it would have a huge advantage being up high.

 

That is cool. Star Wars-ish technology, today.

 

Actually, walking transportation is great for mobility over a larger amount of terrain types than other ones, except flying. But the one issue I have with bipedal walkers is stability. I think they should make a six-legged variant.

Actually, Sir Bel, this would be great for fighting infantry. They are actually lower, meaning they shoot against the armored underside of the vehicle.

 

there must be a reason why japanese are the only ones who always came out with new robotic inventions.

 

They already have machines to do all there other work, so they have time to make new things?

 

[grove generalisation] Because Japanese are very productive working machines without social life themselves. The best way to make a robot is to be a robot. [/grove generalisation]

Actually, you have touched a serious point. Japanese tend to "think out of the box" while we westerners are more into classical thinking along established patterns.

Both have their advantages. The out of the box one has the advantage of coming with original ideas you wouldn't get otherwise except by accident. The established patterns have the advantage of the reliability associated with solving problems always with the same methodology.

 

its not a true bipedal tank, i watched the video of it and it looks like its still on wheels. The problem as Meatdog mentions is stability. Humans compensate with that little thing called balance and if this new robot fell over it would have no chance of getting up by itself. It needs more development but it looks like a good first step to making a new death dealing machine.... just what the world needs

 

It only uses wheels for turning. For movement, it actually takes steps.

 

hmmm i didnt see that...

 

Well, at your remark, I checked up on a couple of other forums, and you are correct; it is on wheels. Think of it as a rollerskating mech. My apologies for jumping the gun.

 

Well, in BattleTech or MechWarrior/Commander, the pilots of the 'mechs wore neural helmets which helped give their 'mechs balance. For non-bipedals, try the Tarantula and Scorpian.

There's been several discussions about a 'real' 'mech, but the physics sort of shoot it down. The smallest 'mech, the common 20T Flea, would leave gigantic potholes in the ground when it walked on concrete and on soil, it would just get mired.

True 'mechs are still fantasy, but what else do the boys have to dream about?

 

The hot warrior chicks that are posing on said machines?

Finally! I was just waiting for a Battletech fan to appear!

You know, I still think that light 'mechs are a possibility in city fighting. I mean, a 'mech that does way 20 tons is no heavier than some tanks we have out now. Granted, with less of a surface area to spread the weight out on to, it will sink deeper. But, the possibility for it is still there. And, considering that the U.S. spends billions of dollars on aircraft that can't fly in the rain, research might begin soon/

 

That has to be the coolest thing I've seen in quite a while, and nevermind it's potential usefulness - people will flee in terror when they see one of those. Let alone a three-dozen batallion!

Yeh. Cewl. Heheh.

 

@Biffle Chump - so that makes it a 'Heavy Gear'!
(check out Dream Pod 9's mecha/rpg)

I'd argue that this incarnation of 'walking' wouldn't be any good on rough terrain - it's not lifting it's feet at all, and a sidewalk pavement would cause problems. They've got much work ahead of them, but it's a start...

That was the rationale for FASA's BattleMech - increased mobility in rough terrain by virtue of the legs. again stability would make one more eager for quadrapedal mecha.

It's interesting, and even though I practically live and breathe mecha (I've followed news stories about electro-responsive polymers that mimic 'muscle' - much like BattleTech's 'myomers' for their 'Mechs) I realise that giant walking robots are strictly fantasy - a fun fantasy, tho.

IMO, something akin to the 'power lifter' from Aliens would be a more plausible advancement; a flexible, bipedal forklift, if you will.

Take time, and eventually someone would weld armor plates and mount a machine gun, and voila! There's your 'Mech

Again this'd be more akin to DP9's Gears, or BT's Elemental Armor, but hey - I'll take what I can get!

Oh, and that walker IS a sitting duck for any fire, unless it's in an urban environment with taller objects (buildings) to provide cover. Its advantage is a nice shooting platform with good visibility, but that what it sees, can also see (and shoot) it.

That's the advantage of infantry, and why we'll never totally phase out the pongoes - a soldier can hide in a six-inch-deep gulley.

But thanks; it's cool to see!

 

I thought Clan Smoke Jaguar was exterminated.

Anyways, the build of the tank is why you can have a 60T M1 Abrams rolling around and not walking. It's not just whether the 'mech will sink into the terrain. The bit about getting the pilot's brain hooked into the controls is the main. A 'mech relies on balance and control from its pilot (ie: the brain) and I don't know if the neural helmet or similar is out there in science land. Oh, yes, and let's not forget about the atomic reactor that powers a 'mech.

Meh, humanity isn't ready/prepared for 'giant killer robots' now and probably won't be by 3025.

 

Again, for non-neural robots, I point to SIX-legged versions. Research for smaller autonomous robots has proved that to be the optimal amount. Not four as some seem to think.

Regarding weight, there are some very lightweight mechanical "muscles" being researched at the university I'm studying, which might solve alot of weight issues (provided you could fit a lightweight air compressor onboard).

Another point: neural interfaces are totally unneeded for balance. What is needed is a good giro system onboard, although that does add weight and takes up space. Another possibility for two-peds is automation. Nothing better for balance that to let the robot automatically stay upright. This is actually how mechs feasably could be made, most motions would be automated. I never considered a mech where you have full control over the members like with a human body feasible. But if you encode the movements, then the mech can execute it, just like a walking robot. You just tell it where to go, it takes care of the exact motions the legs need to make.