LS3 - Legged Squad Support Systems, robotic mule, Boston Dynamics, Inc., Waltham, Massachusetts, USA

The Legged Squad Support System (LS3) is a rough-terrain robot developed by Boston Dynamics with funding from DARPA and the US Marine Corps. It is designed to carry 400 lbs of payload and travel 20 miles without refueling. LS3 has sensors that let it follow a human leader while avoiding obstacles in the terrain.

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Working with the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (MCWL), researchers from DARPA's LS3 program demonstrated new advances in the robot's control, stability and maneuverability, including "Leader Follow" decision making, enhanced roll recovery, exact foot placement over rough terrain, the ability to maneuver in an urban environment, and verbal command capability.

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The Marine Corps Warfighting Lab in partnership with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and Boston Dynamics tested an autonomous robot on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Sept. 10. Alpha Dog- The Legged Squad Support System, or LS3, demonstration was a performance test of the pack mule prototype for the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James Amos and DARPA Director Arati Prabhakar. Interviews include: Lt. Col Joe Hitt, DARPA program manager, and Brig. Gen. Mark R. Wise, Commanding General of the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory. Video by Cpl. Christofer Baines | Defense Media Activity - Marines

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Legged Squad Support System (LS3) is a four-legged robot designed to travel 20 miles on rough terrain carrying 400 lbs of load. The video shows field testing at Twentynine Palms, CA. Testing includes rough-terrain mobility, endurance, visually guided following, GPS guided maneuver, and overall reliability. LS3 is being developed by Boston Dynamics with funding from DARPA and the US Marine Corps.

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"The goal of this machine is to go where the warfighter goes while carrying the load."
— Kevin Blankespoor | chief engineer on the Legged Squad Support System project

Marines test the capabilities of the Legged Squad Support System for the first time. Marines with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, put the system through its paces at Fort Devens, Mass., Nov. 5-7, 2013. The system, or LS3, is designed to reduce the load Marines carry in combat, can reach speeds of 6 mph and carry up to 400 pounds. The LS3 was created by Boston Dynamics with funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and is currently being tested by the Marine Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Mike V. Walters)

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Popular Mechanics watches the first time a squad of Marines uses the LS3, a robot built to deploy with the Corps.

Read about it: "The Day the Marines Met Their Robotic Mule"

by Joe Pappalardo
November 12, 2013

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Lance Cpl. Dieckmann leads the Legged Squad Support System (LS3) through an open field at Kahuku Training Area. The LS3 Legged Squad Support System is experimental technology being tested by the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab as part of the Advanced Warfighting Experiment during Rim of the Pacific 2014. Video by Gunnery Sgt. Jeremy Vought | Marine Corps Futures Directorate. Derivative Work | AiirSource

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The Legged Squad Support System (LS3) is a DARPA project for a legged robot which could function autonomously as a packhorse for a squad of soldiers. Like BigDog, its quadruped predecessor, the LS3 is ruggedized for military use, with the ability to operate in hot, cold, wet, and dirty environments.

Las Vegas native Lance Cpl. Brandon Dieckmann, an infantryman with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, India Co., operates the Legged Squad Support System through an open field at Kahuku Training Area. The LS3 is experimental technology being tested by the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab as part of the Advanced Warfighting Experiment during Rim of the Pacific 2014. Video by Sgt. William Holdaway | Marine Forces Pacific Combat Camera.

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The robotic mule, which was developed by Boston Dynamics for $2 million can traverse rugged terrain while carrying much of the Marines' load.

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LS3 (Legged Squad Support System) delivering water to combat Marines on Kahuku Training Area during the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab's (MCWL) Advanced Warfighting Experiment. Video by Sgt. Sarah Dietz | U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific

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Earlier in July 2014 the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab (MCWL) has tested two new robotic systems during the Advanced Warfighting Experiment which took place as part of the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2014 exercise in Hawaii. The systems included the the LS3 Legged Squad Support System and GUSS - Ground Unmanned Support System.

Read the full story at:
"Innovative robotic systems supporting Marines during warfighting experiment in Hawaii"

by Tamir Eshel
August 1, 2014

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