Robots to rove Marine firing ranges

[unhappycamper]

Range ‘Rover’
Targets designed to offer more realistic training


Robots to rove Marine firing ranges
By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday May 18, 2010 11:51:42 EDT

The Marine Corps will begin testing a humanoid target in July that can zip through ranges and mimic the behavior of insurgents, foreign fighters and civilians in a combat zone.

Dubbed “Rover” by its maker — Australian-based Marathon Robotics — the autonomous targets can run in packs, providing Marines with real-world scenarios that require them to track and engage multiple “fighters.”

It could be some time before Marines have them in their sights, but foreign militaries have already deemed the device useful.

The Rover’s greatest strength as a training tool comes from its random, but “intelligent” behavior, according to its makers. Using sensors, it can change direction to avoid objects and scatters for cover when fired at.

“This provides mobile targets that move in realistic ways,” said Alex Brooks, CEO of Marathon Robotics. “It forces people to concentrate in ways that you don’t have to with static targets.”



unhappycamper comment: For some reason this reminds me of gladiator training. Kill or be killed. :puke:

[Sherman A1]

1. And one wonders just how much these charming little

devices will cost?

[icnorth]

2. The MIC award bonus points

and fast track advancement if trainees nail the circuit boards instead of the torso to boost re-order sales. Future robots will also come with more realistic skin tones. :sarcasm: off