Re: Real Darleks going to Iraq

From: Alexander Schreiber (als_at_usenet.thangorodrim.de)
Date: 02/12/05 

To: sci-military-moderated@moderators.isc.org
Date: Sun, 13 Feb 2005 00:01:36 +0100

Wylie Wilde <wylywylde.remove100bullets@singnet.com.sg> wrote:
>
> As for the technology being expensive - well, that's what they said about
> the aeroplane too. Most of its nay-sayers predicted in the 1920s that due to
> the physical limitations of engine development, the war plane would hardly
> be able to carry an important bomb load together with the necessary fuel,
> radio equipment to fly it a meaningful distance.

Exactly. Just 20 years ago the only place where any kind of military
robots appeared where military science fiction novels. Now devices like
SWORD actually appear on the battlefield.
 
> I doubt it would fully replace a human soldier - I mean how is it going to
> walk down a staircase ?? :)

By building a version not with tracks, but with legs? Not two,
obviously, since with two legs the system is inherently unstable in
movement (human walking is basically well controlled falling), but give
the thing 6 legs and it will walk nicely.
Of course, the added mechanical complexity makes it more vulnerable in a
hostile environment[0], so while I'm sure we _will_ see military "walking
machines" (either as robots or special purpose transports), it might
still be a long way off.

> Then again with a greater degree of hydrallic suspension and computer power,
> it might come good.

One of the key problems of the robotic platforms is still power. If your
combat support robot runs out of power after 4 hours then the enemy will
learn to wait for this. So you need power packs that are small,
lightweight and _still_ can deliver a lot of power over a seriously
useful amount of time (say, 24+ hours to have a nice safety margin?[1]).
Maybe some kind of fuel cells, or packs of micro engines burning good
old fuel oil.

Regards,
      Alex.
[0] Do I hear anybody saying "wires as traps"? ;-)
[1] First rule of combat logistics: whatever it is that you need _right_
    _now_ (and ordered ages ago), it will take forever to arrive. 

-- 
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and
 looks like work."                                      -- Thomas A. Edison

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