Video: iRobot “Ember”, a swarming battlefield robot

Like a tiny version of the Packbot, the Ember is a prototype battlefield robot that iRobot hopes will someday be nigh-on disposable. [via Danger Room]

1. [technogeek]

   OK, works in urban settings. Tall grass? Deep leaves?

2. [jimkirk]

   I’d be more impressed if they showed how it got over the rail road tracks.

3. [chroma]

   Ditto #1 and #2 and I’d like to see how long it can operate in a real world scenario without something getting stuck in those treads.

4. [spazzm]

   I like the video, but it needs a narrative.
   Maybe something like this:
   “Rejected by the evil Lt. Baggypants, Pfc. Robot struggles against impossible odds to return to the family he once had. On the way he faces danger and hardship, but also finds friendship and love.”

5. [mr.skeleton]

   That Linksys router looks like it’s having a good time.

6. [dculberson]

   ~1:10 in the video shows how it could get over the tracks. It uses the little arms to support itself as the treads pull it up and over. Kinda neat.

   Technogeek has a point, but isn’t most of the call for military robots in urban settings?

   It’s from iRobot, though, so it’ll get cat hair all in the gearbox and ask the nearest insurgent to “please check and clean Ember’s brushes!”