Legged Squad Support System

The Legged Squad Support System (LS3) was a DARPA project for a legged robot which could function autonomously as a packhorse for a squad of soldiers or marines. Like BigDog, its quadruped predecessor, the LS3 was ruggedized for military use, with the ability to operate in hot, cold, wet, and dirty environments.[1][2] The LS3 was put into storage in late 2015.[3]

Specifications

The Legged Squad Support System was to "Go where dismounts go, do what dismounts do, work among dismounts," carry 400 lb of squad equipment, sense and negotiate terrain, maneuver nimbly, and operate quietly when required.

The LS3 was approximately the shape and size of a horse. A stereo vision system, consisting of a pair of stereo cameras mounted into the 'head' of the robot, was integrated alongside a light detecting and ranging (LIDAR) component in order to enable it to follow a human lead and record intelligence gathered through its camera.

The LS3's military variant dimensions were 2.5 feet in width (76 centimeters), 7.5 feet in length (2.30 meters), 5 feet in height (1.52 meters) and 800 pounds (362 kilograms) of weight. LS3 was over two times bigger than BigDog, and 3 times heavier.

History

The initial contract for the Legged Squad Support System was awarded to Boston Dynamics on December 3, 2009.[4] The constant evolution of the BigDog led to the development of the LS3, also known as AlphaDog. The contract schedule called for an operational demonstration of two units with troops in 2012. DARPA continued to support the program and carried out the first outdoor exercise on the latest variation of the LS3 in February 2012, with it successfully demonstrating its full capabilities during a planned hike encompassing tough terrain. Following its initial success, an 18-month plan was unveiled, which saw DARPA complete the overall development of the system and refine its key capabilities, due to start in summer 2012.[5]

On September 9, 2012, two LS3 prototypes were demonstrated in an outdoor test. One of them had done so earlier in the year. The LS3 prototypes completed trotting and jogging mobility runs, perception visualization demonstrations, and a soldier-bounded autonomy demonstrations. They were roughly 10 times quieter than the original platform, as they used exhaust silencer. Other improvements included a 1 to 3 mph walk and trot over rough, rocky terrain, an easy transition to a 5 mph jog, and a 7 mph run over flat surfaces.[6]

External links

• LS3 - Legged Squad Support System, 2012/09/10 (YouTube)
• LS3 - Robot by DARPA and Boston Dynamics, 2014/04/01 (YouTube)