Mechas available for domestic ownership

The American army has been fooling around with prototype Mecha since, like, the sixties, guys...

Hardiman suit;
http://files.gereports.com/wp-conten...e-hardiman.jpg

CAM (Cybernetic Anthropomorphous Machine);
http://dvice.com/assets_c/2011/05/ge...auto-63271.jpg

Unfortunately both were extremely expensive and tiring to control, never making it past the evaluation stage.

The good news is that the Bigdog is indeed pretty viable, through, and may well be used as a "pack mule" by the military in the near future. Which means that you'll probably be able to buy a civvy version eventually, just like the hummer. :3

This rather impressive walking crane thing has also been produced by timberjack;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD2V8GFqk_Y

Maaan, they had to model it after a grasshopper.

Just realized something...

Mars Rovers-
http://www.freewebs.com/handcannon/P...5_D521_900.jpg

Gits-
http://antiotaku.files.wordpress.com...a011.jpg?w=600

Almost!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Outcast

I thought it was generally accepted that the guy in charge did this entirely for amusement and mecha fans, where did you get this information about it being for the military?

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I was talking about the Boston Dynamics' 'Alpha Dog' or whatev, the Kurata is obviously a joke.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mclbVTIYG8E
Read description, and watch the video in awe

Oh okay.

I'll just leave this here...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Xbl...eature=related

Why the hell are you guys getting flustered about mecha when robot armies await? These are expensive and prototyping but will get cheaper and more refined, as with all technology, while training costs for human soldiers continues to increase.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mclbVTIYG8E

Well that was kinda the point I was making with the Tachikoma post. But yeah.

What is pretty scary about having robot armies is that robots really do have no empathy or honor. Skynet scenarios are silly, but a politician, general or corporate CEO abusing that power is not. I, for one, hope that the darned things stay remote controlled by individual human personnel. >_>

Also, the P1 totally looked cooler than it's big brother the Asimo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pbbJTTzNBU&feature=related

Edit;

A picture of the "Bigdog LS3", which is the pack mule version I was talking about, being developed for the marines...

http://www.bostondynamics.com/img/LS...uced.png?w=600