SMSS - Squad Mission Support System

An autonomous vehicle serving alongside soldiers in rough terrain with a half a ton of equipment on its back will change the rules of the battlefield. Called the Squad Mission Support System (SMSS), this vehicles intuitive situational awareness and real-time 3D perception of its surroundings represent a leap forward in robotics.
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/products/smss/

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• SMSS
• robot
• robotic
• unmanned
• Lockheed
• Lockheed Martin
• show

[TheJamesrocket]

@PriestOfTyr Dude, thats not the point. This isn't an armored fighting vehicle, its more of a jeep (a very cool jeep at that). You can load it down with fuckloads of water, ammo and fuel, not to mention 20 foot long folding ISO containers, which would be used to replace non weather/climate proofed, non bullet proofed tents. Issued one per platoon, these SMSS' could be a very, very significant asset to the fighting man.

[WakeUpWorldTV]

Great! Feel these with food and meds and send them to Africa.

[cheesemuffinality]

@manupai that's not what it was built for. there are already autonomous/RC attack robots.

[cheesemuffinality]

@10530309 it's probably lightly armored, but it would absorb most of the force from any small explosives. yes if it was blown up theyd lose their stuff, but any blast strong enough to do that would kill them too.

since your troops shouldnt be traveling anywhere where there are IEDs, they wouldn't even be walking in that dangerous of an area. they wouldn't send it anywhere they wouldn't send a soldier; they would take the necessary precautions to make sure the men and machines are okay.

[cheesemuffinality]

@ntv7 it's already been field tested and approved. noise doesn't matter, this isn't intended for use with foot soldiers who are being quiet. the SMSS is just a means of transportation for their things when they're traveling from point to point. it can be left behind when they get close to the mission area should it require stealth. plus, we're not the ones who need to be quiet on patrol, the insurgents are.

[TheJamesrocket]

@cheesemuffinality Hey, thanks. I figure vehicles of this sort ought to be common sense, after all, the brits used their universal carrier in the exact same way back 70 odd years ago. People complain that they can't carry a full sqaud of men, but what they forget is that this IS NOT AN APC. lol. Its a cargo carrier, meant to accompany light (I.E, foot propelled) infantry.

But if the designers fail to reasonably answer their unreasonable questions, then in their convoluted minds, its a failure.

[cheesemuffinality]

@PriestOfTyr 1) Terrorists don't know that

2) Terrorists can't shoot that well

3) They'd be targeting the soldiers, not the vehicle. The vehicle isn't the one posing a threat. Also, the money put into training soldiers is usually more than the vehicle is even worth, which makes them the important target. Vehicles are just expendable but people are not.

[cheesemuffinality]

@WakeUpWorldTV and risk people damaging them? i dont think so. they cost a pretty penny and also they have a limited range. not to mention dumping all our money and resources into helping the less fortunate is NOT america's job.

[cheesemuffinality]

@TheJamesrocket Dude nice job. That's like an essay thesis but with some balls lol.

[ntv7]

abandon all your hope will not introduce to army to near feature. Noise very critical issue when you patrolling..