Think Defence hopes to start sensible conversations about UK defence issues, no agenda or no campaign but there might be one or two posts on containers, bridges and mexeflotes!
hmm, odd, my comment turned up in this post rather than the vertical lift one, regardless, oh yes!
i would love one of these.
paul g
first of all, no i want two, more fun racing!! secondly this was on the gadget show last monday, and my think defence head came on when it was been demonstrated. Even more so when the tester said that this was just a prototype and the next version was going to have a 47bhp engine fitted!!
47 bhp how much could that pull? visions of a tom screaming down the tailgate of a chinny with the stores attached on the back!!! ( i need to get out more)
Richard Stockley
That is mental!
….question is, how much?
….and the military version is £80,000 no doubt!
Marcase
Definite. Must. Have.
A lot of fun, but seriously, the infantry could really get some real mileage out of these. Foot patrols not only get more fun, but are more efficient.
Paratroopers could become a fast raiding force without the need for vehicles. I know airborne forces have been playing with motorcycles, ATV/quads and bicycles, but this beats them all.
After all the millions wasted into MULE robots to transport supplies to “unload” the infantry, this could solve all that for a fraction of that.
Joint
While I can see the fun factor I wonder if every second man will have a jerry can of fuel in his Bergen.
Do they go fast enough so that the guy behind you catches the blast from the ski mine that you have just gone over? It has to be said that Norgy ski boots and NATO planks (do they still issue those?) are much quieter too!
Richard Stockley
Marcase, I don’t think the millions spent on mule robots was wasted. Although the concept was something of a dead end, the technology still has a viable use. It could still be used for somekind of recce role.
Personally, I’d like to see one of Honda’s Asimo’s sprayed in camoflague colours, with a secure data link relaying pictures with a helmet mounted camera. It would make a great point man, with built in metal detectors and multi-directional infra-red cameras, it would be very useful on a night patrol, if only for a couple of hours while the batteries lasted.
Asimo technology coupled with the MULE robot technology, I think the posibilities are pretty much limitless.
Marcase
Richard – as GCV isn’t FCS, there’s not a single MULE type fielded, or is even planned of being fielded, so I call it a waste, as the whole concept has been shelved.
Mind you, I fully agree with you that a MULE-type UGV would be VERY usefull for the (dismounted) troops. But the concept was suffering from a “neat to have” instead of a “need to have” point of view.
I really like this skateboard-on-steroids because it is faster than conventional (EOD) robots, yet similarly sized, and could be fast and agile enough to be integrated into a rifle squad, unlike the Humvee-sized FCS MULEs.
You could have a single micro-tractor/trailer following the platoon leader without it being too obvious.
Btw, Asimo-tech; nice idea…
Richard Stockley
Marcase,
Apologies, I got my terminology mixed up. For MULE I was thinking of Boston Technology’s ‘Big Dog’ programme. I’ve seen it referred to as the ‘Mechanical Mule’ hence the crossed wires.
I don’t see much wrong with Phoenix Think Tank’s content. I would gladly read something similar that presented a “light blue” perspective if a site could be recommended.
A recognised author will always colour your perceptions of a paper. If one Lewis Page had written that PTT paper I would be hitting Jane’s and the web fact checking now…….
BTW I am still waiting for ThinkDefence’s fleet orbat sans CVF……….
admin
x, first, the words ‘cold war relic’ make an appearance which in my mind is simply ridiculous, the language is reminiscent of the singe service politics that has so beset UK defence in the last several decades and simply one side of an argument making a case for more of what their gang has.
Just look at the numbers of operational aircraft quoted, the numbers quoted bear no relation to actual reality or recognise in any way the differing types yet still they are used as a foil to make a counter argument.
hmm, odd, my comment turned up in this post rather than the vertical lift one, regardless, oh yes!
i would love one of these.
first of all, no i want two, more fun racing!! secondly this was on the gadget show last monday, and my think defence head came on when it was been demonstrated. Even more so when the tester said that this was just a prototype and the next version was going to have a 47bhp engine fitted!!
47 bhp how much could that pull? visions of a tom screaming down the tailgate of a chinny with the stores attached on the back!!! ( i need to get out more)
That is mental!
….question is, how much?
….and the military version is £80,000 no doubt!
Definite. Must. Have.
A lot of fun, but seriously, the infantry could really get some real mileage out of these. Foot patrols not only get more fun, but are more efficient.
Paratroopers could become a fast raiding force without the need for vehicles. I know airborne forces have been playing with motorcycles, ATV/quads and bicycles, but this beats them all.
After all the millions wasted into MULE robots to transport supplies to “unload” the infantry, this could solve all that for a fraction of that.
While I can see the fun factor I wonder if every second man will have a jerry can of fuel in his Bergen.
Do they go fast enough so that the guy behind you catches the blast from the ski mine that you have just gone over? It has to be said that Norgy ski boots and NATO planks (do they still issue those?) are much quieter too!
Marcase, I don’t think the millions spent on mule robots was wasted. Although the concept was something of a dead end, the technology still has a viable use. It could still be used for somekind of recce role.
Personally, I’d like to see one of Honda’s Asimo’s sprayed in camoflague colours, with a secure data link relaying pictures with a helmet mounted camera. It would make a great point man, with built in metal detectors and multi-directional infra-red cameras, it would be very useful on a night patrol, if only for a couple of hours while the batteries lasted.
Asimo technology coupled with the MULE robot technology, I think the posibilities are pretty much limitless.
Richard – as GCV isn’t FCS, there’s not a single MULE type fielded, or is even planned of being fielded, so I call it a waste, as the whole concept has been shelved.
Mind you, I fully agree with you that a MULE-type UGV would be VERY usefull for the (dismounted) troops. But the concept was suffering from a “neat to have” instead of a “need to have” point of view.
I really like this skateboard-on-steroids because it is faster than conventional (EOD) robots, yet similarly sized, and could be fast and agile enough to be integrated into a rifle squad, unlike the Humvee-sized FCS MULEs.
You could have a single micro-tractor/trailer following the platoon leader without it being too obvious.
Btw, Asimo-tech; nice idea…
Marcase,
Apologies, I got my terminology mixed up. For MULE I was thinking of Boston Technology’s ‘Big Dog’ programme. I’ve seen it referred to as the ‘Mechanical Mule’ hence the crossed wires.
http://www.bostondynamics.com/robot_bigdog.html
http://www.YouTube.com/BostonDynamics
Admin, have we featured ‘Big Dog’ before?
Hello all,
Off topic but of interest as TD has touched on the subject often…….
http://thephoenixthinktank.wordpress.com/
I stumbled upon this site while doing some background reading inspired by previous CVF related articles on TD.
One of the contributors is non other than Commander Sharkey Ward!
Hope you enjoy.
Andy.
Andy, beat me to it.
Was just about to ping the site but having read the 6 articles on there the one thing that runs through them all is
CVF IS THE ANSWER, WHAT WAS THE QUESTION AGAIN
I would also add that I don’t care who wrote the content, its what it says that counts
Hi Admin,
No worries, and i completely agree with your sentiments especially with regards ‘…what was the question again?’
Andy.
just to get you salavating if you go the lads offical site at one point they are towing a pick up!!! (not very fast but hey that’s some torque)
As I am now convinced we are doomed this may be the only tracked asset that the UK is able to afford in 2011.
BTW FWIW I like these,
http://www.mattracks.com/
I don’t see much wrong with Phoenix Think Tank’s content. I would gladly read something similar that presented a “light blue” perspective if a site could be recommended.
A recognised author will always colour your perceptions of a paper. If one Lewis Page had written that PTT paper I would be hitting Jane’s and the web fact checking now…….
BTW I am still waiting for ThinkDefence’s fleet orbat sans CVF……….
x, first, the words ‘cold war relic’ make an appearance which in my mind is simply ridiculous, the language is reminiscent of the singe service politics that has so beset UK defence in the last several decades and simply one side of an argument making a case for more of what their gang has.
Just look at the numbers of operational aircraft quoted, the numbers quoted bear no relation to actual reality or recognise in any way the differing types yet still they are used as a foil to make a counter argument.
Sorry, just more single service special pleading
Actually I “coughed” at 24 Airmobile Brigade…..