Like a lot of us, former Navy electrician Dennis Buller is worried about our troops over in Iraq — specifically, about the amount of gear they have to lug around. But unlike the rest of us, he’s built a machine to do something about it.
Think of it as a Segway for grunts. Except you kneel down on it, instead of ride upright. “After seeing the Chronicles of Narnia, I want to call it the Centaur,” Buller writes in. (Don’t worry, George, he doesn’t mean literally breeding animals with humans.) “See the movie and you will know what I mean.”
This thing will scurry an infantryman around at twenty miles an hour, enable him to carry enough armor to make small arms obsolete, keep him warm, cool, and allow him to open a door and waste someone with extreme prejudice…
I built this because I know how hard it is for non-Technical [sic] people to understand what is in my head. Plus I cannot draw…
Dennis’ prototype is about 3 1/2 feet long, and travels about eight miles an hour (the next one, he promises, will go twice as fast). The Centaur’s small size makes it a better option for troops in urban battlefields than a Humvee, which “cannot pear [sic] around a corner, take cover in a house or dodge an RPG round.” Dennis wants to pair later versions up with technology from the IBOT electric wheelchair, so the Centaur can climb stairs.
This first model is quite crude. But it works better than the first motorcycle, or the first ATV, or the first snowmobile. Not bad considering I made it in my shed.
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
It’s indifferent. I rather have a Segway which you could jump on and off, rather than something that will have to tie your body to it and have a hard time to stand back up when it hits an obstacle and turning over. Let’s wait until the mule enters service, or wait for the robo-dog.
these are the types of experments that should be carried out. Instead of coming up with silly robo-dogs that would require a 10^6 increase in computing power to work…
Segway is higher, but yeah, this’ll be harder to “jump off of” if you get ambushed. Come to think of it, the MC has motorcycles in inventory, which are probably more difficult to dismount from in a hurry. It’s probably better for “movement” than a Segway since it looks like it has tracks, but when you try and put a heavy ruck on a guy and ride this thing, it will probably be little better than a walking person, especially when one or two of them fail. Then you’re going at the speed of the slowest again.
Unstable, uncomfortable, might have some utility in sentry work or as couriers though I’m still wondering ‘why’.
As a (former) GI I’m seeing something that will require maintenance, spare parts, periodic inventorying and prettifying, safety classes, operator licensing… There might be a useful niche somewhere but not for general issue for front line use.
The other option is one-man ATVs for every soldier.
Or if you’re looking 20 years out, just integrate a wheeled or tracked mobility component into the armored exoskeleton. With Segway stability tech, it shouldn’t be too hard to do.
In the meantime, a very beefed up Segway might be a better solution.
Keep in mind folks…this has one advantage that neither a “beefed up Segway”, nor a motorcycle, nor an ATV would have.
Hands Free Operation.
I get cranky just carrying around a radio…let alone all of the spare batteries, and all of my ‘personal’ gear (body armor and ammo).
Besides, show me a grunt that can lug around 80 lbs of gear and still maintain a good pace across the ground, and I’ll show you a grunt that’s riding in a Humvee. ;)
This seems like it would be pretty expensive, especially if it is meant for ground soldiers. Like said in previous comments, there should be a better way to stay on this then tieing yourself in. Too many problems can occur which would be life threatening in combat situation. How do you transport all these to other countries efficiently. Maybe you could use this on a farm or in industry where you need to carry heavy things around.
If this is meant for military use, its a bad device in my opinion.
Dennis has something here.But perhaps instead of a kneeling position,perhaps something where,in a pinch
the operater can sit with his feet forward,ready to
stand up and off as the tactical situation warrents.
Dennis,as just food for thought,mabye have the vehicle steering tied into a helmet mounted movement
system,sort of like the technology used by AH-64
APACHE pilots use for aiming and directing the hughes 30mm auto cannon in the chin of that craft.
This would at least ensure true hands free operation,allowing the individual soldier the
ability to still index his/her weapon or equipment.Gives a definite shoot-n-skoot capability.Hey,there you go Dennis,call it the
shoot-n-scoot,and cross market it not only to
soldiers but to the average joe hunter in the bush
who could use getting to his spot to engage that
pesky buck,while being able to maintain a bead
on him.It would make taking after the wounded critter less of a chore too.I look forward to it
at my next hunt,kudos.
A few concerns. As a sniper, a soldier on one of these would be like shooting ducks in a barrel. Not only would they move very predictable but once engaged the soldier can’t duck and cover, he would have to 1) get off (rather a clumsy operation if there is any bindings involved or 2) attempt to evade (while exposing the exact same target profile, i.e. not crawling around). Yes, you can carry more armor and much is made of ceramic armor and the new flexible scalar armor. But, a Dragunov firing an armor-piercing 7.62x54R bullet is not that uncommon, and you would require a Level IV armor to stop that round. Even a standard AK 7.62×39 hitting a kevlar helmet WILL knockout (not kill but give a concussion) the target, taking the soldier out operationally. Engine sound – unless you make these extra quiet you announce yourself in advance. It also gives a sniper a larger target area, ie the extra equipment. Mobility – It seems that you are sacrificing mobility and gaining weight loading. In many cases mobility (ie the ability to jump a fence, evade, cross a stream, etc) is life-saving compared to more armor/food/equipment.
Finally, current combat platoon logistics would require a DRASTIC change, specially in the area of fuel resupply and equipment maintenance. A combat platoon in the field is expected to be self-sufficent for several days so they would have to carry the fuel needed for n-day operations depending on the assigned mission. You basically are converting a foot platoon into a mini-vehicle platoon so you have to add all the fuel/tools/spares issues that vehicle platoons have to deal with logistically.
PURTY NEAT
I think the system would be top notch for heavy gun and 81mm mortor units. From personal experience mortor has to be moble but vehicles can’t always get where you need to go so you have to pack 100+ pounds where you need to go (for a raid as an example). With heavy weapons plts. they need to be supplied on a regular baises anyway, so it would not be that much of problem resuppling the system.
As far as use by the standard grunt I would think something more mobile will be needed. Like a mechanical frame that is like a second skin on the body. The frame would have springs or self propelled hydrolics to allow freedom of movement but at the same time take a heavy load.
Your kind of proactive thought and action is what will keep these protoypes rolling out and eventually lead to somthing that will do everything you want it to and be accepted by everyone.
20 miles a hour! i’m not going to flip forward with 250lbs of gear doing 20 miles an hour on that little thing. i’ll stay in the hummvee and take my chances with IED’s and snipers, but thank you anyway.
It’s really easy to sit back and nitpick, so you nay-sayers can stuff it. Let’s look at this a little more rationally.
1. Speed – 8mph is faster than the average person walks, and it’s quite difficult to hit a moving target, sniper or not. It actually doesn’t need to be any faster than that.
2. Stealth – This unit would easily be stealthier than a HUMVEE from a noise standpoint alone. And, it could sweep a narrow alley that a regular vehicle is unable to clear, reducing the odds of some pinhead popping out of a nook or cranny and tossing grenades at your back. Like the inventor says, it’s not a recon application, so noise is not a primary consideration.
3. Armor – Given the cargo capacity, a combination of armor solutions could be mounted on this platform, to defeat multiple threats. Combine kinetic and reactive armor layers for small arms munitions, perhaps up to RPG levels. What is the true likelihood of an enemy judging one of these worth wasting an RPG round against?
4. Multiple Systems applications – Look at this as a potential base mule on which any number of different systems can be deployed. Imagine a squad of these, with one carrying comm gear for inter-platoon all the way to battalion comms, even sat uplink/downlinks; one performing as an ammo/supply mule; one or two configured as remotely piloted heavy weapons platforms, etc.
The possibilities are vast, although my personal estimation is that powered exo-skeletons currently under development will eventually hit the battlefield. This does not mean that such innovation is useless, in fact far from it.
I applaud the efforts of someone that is spending his own time and money to develop a solution for combat forces. This is the embodiment of the classic backyard tinkerer. Don’t forget that guys like this, who saw a need and satisfied it, have been responsible throughout history for extremely useful things.
Great all you need to do is encase the guy in armour and fix weapons to the outside – I’m sure the effect will be pretty frightening – I was the first time I saw a Dalek on T.V.!
For anyone reading this because you were bored at work and were looking into the nooks and crannies of this site; I thought I would give an update.
I have come to the conclusion I do not have the time or money to create a new class of vehicle. I have also come to the conclusion that some of my requirements for this vehicle were not needed.
I have dropped the idea of the vehicle eventually going up stairs and having a zero turn radius.
I also am having serious doubts about the vehicle being used in urban warfare, except to get to the urban site and securing a position.
My basic premise still stands. By motorizing the infantryman, it allows that solder to have greater mobility, and speed; allows him to carry multiple weapons with extensive ammo; allows the solder to carry all the wiz bang electronics with a smaller battery; and most importantly, carry significantly more body armor without fatigue.
So where do I go from here?
The question boils down to whether there is a vehicle out that that is all terrain, can pull a trailer with weapon behind it, and be controlled with the feet.
The answer to the first two questions is yes. They are ATV’s. Four wheel all terrain vehicles which have thirty years of development behind them. There is a whole line of products for them, for hunters, that can be used by solders.
Silencers, Tweels (Tire-Wheels, no air) rifle storage, rifle stabilizers, the list goes on.
Can they be made to be controlled by the feet. Yes! Due to the advent of automatic and continuously variable transmissions this will not be a complicated task.
I am planning to use the existing foot break linkage, and move the gas linkage down to the right foot.
The existing shifter, which is hand operated will get added linkage to set it lower, and make it controlled with the right foot. In this way the solder will be able to quickly take his foot off of the brake and change transmission selection.
On the left side will be two foot activated electrical switches. Each switch will control the extension or retraction of a Linear actuator which will be attached to the pitman arm of the steering system (the handlebars attach there right now, but they will be gone).
With these fairly simple modifications, almost any ATV can become foot controlled.
I have been unable to find anyone who has done this yet, but unless your intention is to allow someone to shoot a weapon while remaining in control of the vehicle, why would they?
Unlike many inventions this is not a “one point” purpose technology. I am talking about a package of technologies that overlap each other to create a new type of warrior.
One that can go sixty miles an hour; Operate out of helicopter, truck, Osperay and parachute; over any terrain; carry a sniper rifle, SAW and an M-16, the ammo to keep the barrel hot; carry communications and navigation electronics and not worry about the battery running down; and enough armor on them to make the AK-47 as obsolete as a smooth barrel rifle……
Now, if I can just find the money and time to build it….Wish me luck!
-Dennis Buller
I doubt this (or any other single troop transport) will be able to increase the speed of soldiers beyond walking. I think the machine has a lot of potential, but I wouldn’t get so hung up on the speed thing. As soon as one breaks down, catches a bullet, or gets blown up, it’s operator will be on foot and that will be the new pace of the group.
You’ll probably get more out of it by having it strictly a supply transport. Have the machine programmable to follow the solder around automatically at a certain distance (like those cool golf carts that follow you around the course). Under optimal conditions a solder could simply sit on top of his gear and control the machine manually.
personal tank-like vehicles? gimme gimme!
Complex control systems using valves requires an automatic control based input of an actuator. The actuator strokes the valve allowing the valve to be positioned accurately and allowing control over a variety of requirements.
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