DARPA’s LS3 Program Demonstrates Two Robotic ‘Pack Mule’ Prototypes

DARPA’s Legged Squad Support System (LS3) program have conducted the demonstration of two robotic ‘pack mule’ prototypes for Arati Prabhakar, DARPA Director, and Gen. James F. Amos, the Commandant of the Marine Corps.

Initial outdoor test had been conducted earlier this year for the first platform, which has gone through continual testing and enhancements to the stage that two working platforms have started to experience the paces analogous to what they will encounter one day. The objective of the LS3 program is to develop a legged robot that is capable of unburdening dismounted squad of soldiers and marines by interpreting their visual and verbal commands, carrying their gear and following them autonomously through harsh landscapes.

In today’s demo, the LS3 prototypes performed jogging and trotting mobility runs, a soldier-bounded autonomy demonstration, and perception visualization demonstration. The robots also demonstrated reduced noise levels, thus enabling the squad members to converse right next to them.

In July 2012, the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (MCWL) and DARPA started a 2-year platform-refinement test cycle with the first DARPA/MCWL-hosted test scheduled on a military base in December 2012. Testing will be continuously carried out roughly every quarter at all military bases located throughout the country, finally concluding in a Marine Corps Advanced Warfighting Experiment where the LS3 will be introduced into a squad to perform an operational exercise.

Brig. Gen. Mark R. Wise, Commanding General, MCWL, stated that rigorous initiatives being taken to improve autonomous robotic capabilities that facilitate greater mobility and agility among dismounted Marine and U.S. Army forces throughout the battle field are a testament to what is achievable through the collaboration with DARPA and other DoD organizations in favor of the warfighter.

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