On papers, some news have suggested that 40,000 American soldiers will leave Afghanistan by the end of 2012. And this act of withdrawal will continue next year as well. But how long it will take before Americans completely leave the so called Taliban’s soil we don’t know yet.
As long as they are there the war shall continue. Boston Dynamics is developing insect-like bots, funded by Rapid Equipping Force, that are to be delivered to the US Army in Afghanistan in the running year.
RHex
RHex is a 6 legged 30 pound bot that has the capability to crawl through any obstacle such as rocky mountains, mud, stairs, slopes, streams, and underwater. Regardless of position RHex will transfer the surveillance data of its surrounding effectively. And it can be controlled by an operator from 650 yards away. The bot lasts six hours on a single charge.
Rapid Equipping Force is to deliver four units of RHex bots to US Army after obtaining satisfactory tests certificate from Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC).
Sand Flea
Sand Flea is another insect-like bot that will join the army of robots in Afghanistan. It weighs eleven pounds and jump 30 feet up in the air to avoid obstacles. On a single charge it can achieve 25 jumping stunts. A gyro stabilization system controls the Sand Flea when it is flying to make a smooth landing and to keep its camera levels in right position for surveillance data. After ATEC’s approval nine units Sand Flea will flee to the warzone, cross-borders.
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