4 ms·

BattleTech nailed this decades ago. Watching this took me right back to my childhood. Edit: AT-ST Walker, too.

duskwuff 5y ago
It's interesting that most fictional depictions of legged robots (outside of explicitly humanoid robots) use digitigrade legs. Did the artists model their art after animals which happened to have these legs, or did they subconsciously realize that this would be more effective?
- marcosdumay 5y ago
  Isn't it obvious? After you see an ostrich running, there is little doubt about its efficiency. Now, actually capturing that efficiency in a real system takes some really hard engineering work. Fictional robots do not need to conserve energy, compensate for impacts, etc.
- beaconstudios 5y ago
  Now you have me imagining mechs with human legs and it's making me uncomfortable. A bit like those "birds with human arms" photo edits.
girvo 5y ago
It really does look exactly like a BattleMech from one of the MechWarrior video games doesn't it! Thats fascinating. Reminds me most of the Locust: https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Locust https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Locust https://sites.google.com/site/fineartofmechcombat/_/rsrc/1468738697145/home/general-guide/locust/xctl.jpg https://sites.google.com/site/fineartofmechcombat/_/rsrc/146...
- hef19898 5y ago
  Wouldn't a Spider be the better scout 'Mech? It has jump jets!
  - girvo 5y ago
    Oh for sure! It just reminded me of exactly how the Locust’s legs are animated in MW5
hnhg 5y ago
ED209 too. But how will they handle stairs? https://youtu.be/mRDl5_-wJ0Y https://youtu.be/mRDl5_-wJ0Y
hef19898 5y ago
Another thing that we are going to see in combat vehicles in the next decades, IMHO, is something like OmniMechs. Meaning that future weapon systems, e.g. fighters or tanks (not the upcoming generation but those after that, F-35's successor' successors) will feature LRUs (line-replaceable units) that carry different mission capabilities. That way, a fighter can land as a ground support fighter or drone controller and lift of as air superiority fighter by swapping a hand full of modules out.
- dumpsterdiver 5y ago
  It certainly sounds terrifying having an adversary that can pivot into superiority based on the situation, but I wonder how practical it would be when faced with an opponent who simply brought the right amount of non-modular vehicles in the first place? If you have to pivot to gain air superiority, there's a really good chance that you've already lost.
  - dwighttk 5y ago
    I feel like in theory you’d be able to adjust the mix across the battlefield throughout the battle and it would be less about one plane’s ability to pivot. And in theory, theory is identical to practice ;)
    - dumpsterdiver 5y ago
      Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth. - Mike Tyson
- kingkawn 5y ago
  Sounds super expensive and nothing a javelin can’t take care of
  - hef19898 5y ago
    Like bazookas took care of Panzer IVs? I like how everyone just heard about Javelins and now thinks they rendered all armored vehicles obsolete over night. EDIT: You now what takes care of a Javelin, or rather the guy using it? A bat or a knife.

It's interesting that most fictional depictions of legged robots (outside of explicitly humanoid robots) use digitigrade legs. Did the artists model their art after animals which happened to have these legs, or did they subconsciously realize that this would be more effective?

marcosdumay 5y ago
Isn't it obvious? After you see an ostrich running, there is little doubt about its efficiency. Now, actually capturing that efficiency in a real system takes some really hard engineering work. Fictional robots do not need to conserve energy, compensate for impacts, etc.
beaconstudios 5y ago
Now you have me imagining mechs with human legs and it's making me uncomfortable. A bit like those "birds with human arms" photo edits.

girvo 5y ago

It really does look exactly like a BattleMech from one of the MechWarrior video games doesn't it! Thats fascinating. Reminds me most of the Locust: https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Locust https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Locust https://sites.google.com/site/fineartofmechcombat/_/rsrc/1468738697145/home/general-guide/locust/xctl.jpg https://sites.google.com/site/fineartofmechcombat/_/rsrc/146...

hef19898 5y ago
Wouldn't a Spider be the better scout 'Mech? It has jump jets!
- girvo 5y ago
  Oh for sure! It just reminded me of exactly how the Locust’s legs are animated in MW5

hnhg 5y ago

ED209 too. But how will they handle stairs? https://youtu.be/mRDl5_-wJ0Y https://youtu.be/mRDl5_-wJ0Y

hef19898 5y ago

Another thing that we are going to see in combat vehicles in the next decades, IMHO, is something like OmniMechs. Meaning that future weapon systems, e.g. fighters or tanks (not the upcoming generation but those after that, F-35's successor' successors) will feature LRUs (line-replaceable units) that carry different mission capabilities. That way, a fighter can land as a ground support fighter or drone controller and lift of as air superiority fighter by swapping a hand full of modules out.

dumpsterdiver 5y ago
It certainly sounds terrifying having an adversary that can pivot into superiority based on the situation, but I wonder how practical it would be when faced with an opponent who simply brought the right amount of non-modular vehicles in the first place? If you have to pivot to gain air superiority, there's a really good chance that you've already lost.
- dwighttk 5y ago
  I feel like in theory you’d be able to adjust the mix across the battlefield throughout the battle and it would be less about one plane’s ability to pivot. And in theory, theory is identical to practice ;)
  - dumpsterdiver 5y ago
    Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth. - Mike Tyson
kingkawn 5y ago
Sounds super expensive and nothing a javelin can’t take care of
- hef19898 5y ago
  Like bazookas took care of Panzer IVs? I like how everyone just heard about Javelins and now thinks they rendered all armored vehicles obsolete over night. EDIT: You now what takes care of a Javelin, or rather the guy using it? A bat or a knife.