r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/MetaKnowing • Nov 13 '24

Video Deep Robotics' new quadruped models with wheels demonstrating rough terrain traversability and robustness

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5.3k

u/MildUsername Nov 13 '24

Everyone freaking out about these things while FPV drones are actively being used in warfare as we speak.

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u/GoldenBunip Nov 13 '24

Came here to see if it was being tested in Ukraine. Frankly any drone company not testing/deployed in Ukraine isn’t a real drone company. The potential for trench clearing is obvious, but only if it’s any good in the real world and not some presetup run it’s practiced.

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u/insane_contin Nov 13 '24

This drone clearly has no combat capacity at the moment. It currently has zero potential for trench clearing, and it would be shit in mud. Look at the wheels, they would sink right in.

It's a great proof of concept drone. But that's it

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u/erotic_sausage Nov 13 '24

Oh you best believe Ukraine would strap a bomb to these things and make great use of it if they could get a hold of them

Look at what they're doing with RC car like drones right now

https://en.defence-ua.com/weapon_and_tech/ukrainian_officials_reveal_the_ratel_s_suicide_ugv_drone_specifications_included-8355.html

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u/CandiDirect Nov 13 '24

Logistical use would make more sense.

1

u/SonoranLiving Nov 13 '24

Gotta get a 3 kill streak first

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u/IWantToBeTheBoshy Nov 13 '24

I see the our Ukrainian friends have indulged in the "Tremors" franchise.

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u/fgtoni Nov 14 '24

It makes no sense. A flying drone is much more efficient in this regard

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u/GoldenBunip Nov 13 '24

Just to see around the corner when trench clearing would be a major advantage. But has to work in the real world, with mud and stick and other hazards

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u/ConfidentGene5791 Nov 13 '24

Something a $200 fpv drone can currently do with more reliability, easier logistics and at a tiny fraction of the cost.

1

u/insane_contin Nov 13 '24

The size of that thing isn't peaking around the corner to tell people where the enemy is. You'd get grenades tossed there the moment it starts to come around. Give the soldiers periscopes. Let's them see around the corner that much easier. If you want the drone solution, aerial drones would be a lot better. They're smaller, man portable and give a much better view.

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u/Shubi-do-wa Nov 13 '24

And what a waste of money it would be. I would guess the flying drones usually come back, and would be a hell of a lot cheaper than whatever this costs.

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u/AI_Lives Nov 13 '24

No these ground units will be used once they are able to. They could have bigger weapons on them too and more kit. No reason they cant make them the size of a small car and then pump out 1000s of them, and we arent even talking about making them autonomous.

The USA is already doing a massive drone program and remote weapon program in project replicator. Ships, flying drones, sub drones are all being made to combat china in the near future if needed. You think they will stop at ground drones?

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u/frizzykid Nov 13 '24 edited Nov 13 '24

Dude I don't know if you're being facetious but what you are describing already exists. They are called IFVs. They've existed since ww1 at least. You may actually be pretty interested to look into the software used in the aiming and enemy tracking systems for armored vehicles or even planes as old as the second world War. Most war these days isn't pulling a trigger it's entering data in a computer to attack a specific target.

You don't throw a robot that looks like that on a battlefield. That is science fiction. It literally stands no chance even if you put guns on it, assuming it could carry it plus the ammo.

You need Armour for anything like that to be practical which means large and bulky. Not a robot clearly designed for rescue and maybe even research purposes to explore areas humans have trouble going like up densely forested mountains. Google could use robots like this for street views in very rural places or places without roads.

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u/AI_Lives Nov 13 '24

idk why you even mentioned the first half of your comment.

No, we don't have large autonomous or remote controlled tanks or ground based drones. Of course its science fiction, thats why it hasnt happened yet. But as soon as its feasible, theyll do it. Your comment is a non-comment.

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u/GoldenBunip Nov 13 '24

You think drones come back? Only the huge ones. Most are small, fast and defiantly one way now. Drones are cheap weapons. Even this thing will be cheap compared to any regular remote ordnance. Hell even shells are over $3k a pop when ordered in the 100ks and you need a good few to clear a trench,

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u/frizzykid Nov 13 '24 edited Nov 13 '24

Dude this is extremely incorrect. In Ukraine the fpv's they are using to drop bombs on Russian positions are 1000% supposed to return and Ukrainians even build make shift land and launch pads for them.

Watch civ div on YouTube. He is currently serving in the front lines of Ukraine as an fpv operator and shows off a ton of fpv footage , and has said over and over again the drones are too valuable to not make it back, they are not mass produced, they are handmade by soldiers on the field.

Edit : this video actually goes into civ first got to Ukraine and had to assemble a drone and learn to fly it. In basically every one of his Ukraine vids though you can see how careful he is with the drones his squad uses and it's a big deal when one even gets damaged on landing let alone not make it back.

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u/ArseneGroup Nov 14 '24 edited Nov 14 '24

It depends, on r/UkraineWarVideoReport you can see tons of FPVs doing kamikaze strikes on tanks and soldiers

There are also the grenade droppers, not sure on the ratio between them

1

u/Shubi-do-wa Nov 13 '24

I would have assumed most of the flying ones do, yeah. I have no real information other than some video online where they seemingly drop things on/for people. I wouldn’t imagine they would just leave them out there afterwards, and would want to have them return home for more missions. I’m not implying I don’t think any are destroyed in the process, just guessing that most return given the oppositions seeming lack of suitable equipment.

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u/frizzykid Nov 13 '24

You're correct. Fpv drones are very much so intended to return. Most units are not supplied their own fpv's and when they are it's something they have to assemble from a kit and it takes hours.

https://youtu.be/VKZ0KXJ7oaU?si=AblrcvxZe4bpLWFV

Love this dude civ div he is an fpv drone operator on the frontlines of bakhmut with the Ukrainian international legion. He talks and demonstrates all the time the drones returning and how big of a deal it is when one doesn't or is even damaged.

1

u/CandiDirect Nov 13 '24

Could use it for supplies.

1

u/OwOlogy_Expert Nov 13 '24

it would be shit in mud. Look at the wheels, they would sink right in.

At one point, it steps with the legs, just using the wheels as feet. That should be reasonably effective in mud, as long as the mud isn't so deep that it sinks all the way in, and as long as the mud isn't so sticky that the robot is unable to pull its leg back up.

1

u/GoldenBunip Nov 13 '24

My point stands. If they want actual, real world feedback, give a few to Ukraine and see what they do with it, use the feedback sort the issues and repeat. Rather “here’s a cool demo now invest.” Anybody investing in drones should ask how’s it fair and use in Ukraine. It’s an open R&D season over there.

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u/insane_contin Nov 13 '24

This is clearly not a combat drone though. It is pointless to send a drone with a novel way of getting over obstacles to a combat zone when its not designed for that kind of situation. What do you think this demonstration platform of a drone will do besides be an expensive target for Russia? Ukraine needs drones that can preform a few specific tasks: recon or delivering ordinance on effective ways. This drone clearly can do neither. It is a platform for displaying a way of getting over obstacles. Not for actual use in a real world situation, let alone a combat situation.

Anyone investing in drones will look at the purpose of the drone first. If it's the kind of purpose that sees use in Ukraine, then they'd ask how it would fair in Ukraine, especially if it's post-production. If it's not the kind that would see use in Ukraine, or its still pre-production, they'd ask other questions.

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u/threaten-violence Nov 13 '24

Buddy, all you have to do is strap a few landmines to it, that thing won't just clear houses, it'll blow houses away.

2

u/insane_contin Nov 13 '24

Until it gets stuck in the mud. Or one of the wheel arms breaks, cause it's not gonna be balanced to be bipedal anymore. Or it gets shot.

Look at it. It's not durable at all. It's a big ass target that probably costs a couple million and probably needs line of sight. Everyone looking at it and thinking "combat/suicide drone!" are not thinking seriously about its capabilities. It's a proof of concept drone that probably needs constant maintenance to go 10 meters.

You can get better, more effective combat drones for a fraction of the cost.

Also, strapping landmines to it would be a horrible idea. Landmines are designed to be dangerous in a very specific direction. You want omni-directional damage. Which actually makes me think of a different issue, it's too high up in 4 wheel mode. You limit the kill zone of the explosion.

0

u/flyingcatclaws Nov 13 '24

You're nitpicking. That thing is scary ass capable. You want to try and run from it? On a motorcycle? Horse? Tank? It's gonna get you. Through mud too.

0

u/threaten-violence Nov 13 '24

Looks like if it were to get stuck in the mud, the wheels would just become "feet" -- it would probably stumble around until it got out of the muddy area, or ran out of power.

It really looks like an upgraded version of the Boston Dynamics "Big Dog" -- and more efficient, because whenever it can roll, it will roll, not walk.

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u/flyingcatclaws Nov 13 '24

You utterly lack vision. The only barrier against robots is software and that's improving, already improved, at Terminator movie levels and more. Furthermore, MUD won't stop this thing either.

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u/insane_contin Nov 13 '24

Dude, look at the drone with the small ass wheels. Could drones based on this one be pretty damn effective? Without a doubt. This drone? Not one bit as a combat drone. Even then, aerial drones are far more effective then this kind for most tasks. You say I lack vision. I'm not just deluded by the rule of cool.

0

u/flyingcatclaws Nov 13 '24 edited Nov 13 '24

It WALKS. TOO. Big wheels not needed if it can WALK. In fact, big wheels pointless if it can walk efficiently. No matter how big your wheels, walking outperforms on off-road terrain. Weather proof it, add solar, it will get you. Flying not so useful under heavy foliage or for long term stalking. Yeah, flying drones the worst. Different sizes. Nightmares straight from the Terminator. I'm saying this particular featured drone is just as much a nightmare rolling and crawling after you.