games  anime  |  toys
Destructoid is gaming news, community, videos, and sometimes love. Take the tour or jump in with Facebook:

 



The United States Armed Forces love videogames. Between the training simulators created for actual training purposes to the America's Army series of games intended for recruitment, we see the military using our hobby in all sorts of ways. Now, they're using game controllers to direct the actions of unmanned vehicles.

Lockheed Martin's Multifunction Utility/Logistics and Equipment (MULE for short) is an all-terrain vehicle on crack. The gear-carrying drone can traverse difficult terrain with ease using its advanced suspension design. The damn thing is even capable of rolling over obstructions and gaps of up to a meter in size. MULEs can be programmed to reach their destinations on their own or, as seen in this video found by CVG, directed manually using an remote control -- in this case, an Xbox 360 controller.

This is all well and good, but not exactly the MULE I had in mind for the hardware. Check out video of the thing in action after the jump.


Continue: More video stories





prev next

14 comments | showing # 1 to 14

Magnalon's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/23/2009 08:49
Magnalon
Holy shit, M.U.L.E! That's a game you don't see everyday. I barely remember renting that once, and reading about it in Nintendo Power.
ZombiePlatypus's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/23/2009 08:54
ZombiePlatypus
Needs more waggle.

To be serious though, there's been controllers used like this before, but I still love it. I wonder what the range is on that pack he was wearing?
Elsa's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/23/2009 09:16
Elsa
not surprising... but interesting to see the video.
Caster Tr0y 357's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/23/2009 09:41
Caster Tr0y 357
i remember reading about this like 2 years ago when it was in it's prototype phase.. and i think the range is pretty decent.. it's the military afterall, i don't think they're gunna have somebody 30 feet away with a huge antenna sticking out controlling this thing..
Sexualchocolate's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/23/2009 10:36
Sexualchocolate
"WHAT! Why the fuck is that M.U.L.E. not yet at the target site private?!"

"Ugh, the batteries are dead in my controller Sarge."

FACEPALM..
Havoc Fang's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/23/2009 10:37
Havoc Fang
I remember seeing the British army using things like this...Xbox controllers and headsets.

Now, Call of Duty can officially be called a simulator.
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/23/2009 11:06
Holyetheline
@Sexualchocolate

HAHAHA
Zero Atma's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/23/2009 12:28
Zero Atma
Damn it, don't tease me like that Conrad!
mario actually's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/23/2009 12:30
mario actually
.... Am I the only one who thinks it's very concerning, when they start to use more and more unmanned gear in the military?
The more abstract combat becomes, the easier it is to ignore the psychological barrier of killing people. I know that's not the MULEs job, but there is a lot of other stuff like that out there already and more to come... I don't like it.
GoldenGamerXero's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/23/2009 12:38
GoldenGamerXero
@Mario actually

You be guranteed that this will lead to the same reaction we have wjile playing games. No one cares if they shoot a civillian because they're not important. The armies alreadly have war too impersonal as it is as is hilighted by the disgusting amount of friendly fire (Or should we start calling them "Team Kills")
LsTr Of SmG's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/23/2009 12:52
LsTr Of SmG
Haven't military forces across the world been using games controllers for a while now? I know they've been using them in the British army for unmanned vehicles already and I'm pretty sure the US has been using them before this case.

All said and done though it is pretty neat.
EternalDeathSlayer's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/23/2009 13:31
EternalDeathSlayer
@ mario actually: Personally, if I were a soldier I would much rather control a robot with a remote than go out and risk getting shot by someone.

So who cares?
mario actually's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/23/2009 13:39
mario actually
@ EternalDeathSlayer: Yeah. Exactly: If you were a soldier.

How about being a civilian in a war zone and having your town invaded by an army that doesn't even have faces?

Of course it's really good for the attacking forces and I honestly can understand, how anyone, who has a soldier in their family would probably see mostly benefits from this.
Avalon51's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/23/2009 14:13
Avalon51
Fun (for which read: irrelevant) fact: I was persuaded to play Chrono Trigger by an Iraq vet.

On topic: am I the only one who thinks
prev next

Comment with Facebook





Click connect and comment instantly!

Comment with Dtoid





New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds

Comments policy

Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?

Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!

 
New on Destructoid.TV play all videos

Loading
Loading Destructoid Videos


    Win this!
    Dive in! meetup+play for a chance to win a PC

    Dtoid Twitter    Got news?   tips@destructoid.com

    Reviews & Previews
    Crossfire Remote Pistol review
    Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles review
    Left 4 Dead 2 review
    Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Reflex review
    Arkedo Series - 02 SWAP! review
    more reviews
    Driver
    Avatar
    GT Racing Motor Academy
    Bad Company 2 beta dishes out meaningful experiences
    Legend of Zelda Spirit Tracks
    more previews


    - The Dtoid Army is 50902 strong -

    Showing Cblogs with 3+ faps   show all

    Call for entries: do the wrong thing

    New to Dtoid? Read the survival guide




     Originals
    Jonathan Holmes: Why No More Heroes HD could mean a Wii total victory





















    More Destructoid Originals




     Popular now more






















    Team Destructoid   tips@destructoid.com
    Nick Chester
    Editor-in-Chief
    Niero
    Founder, publisher
    Jim Sterling
    Reviews Editor
    Hamza Aziz
    Community Manager
    Dale North
    News Editor
    Rey Gutierrez
    Video editor & director
    Anthony Burch
    Features Editor
    Colette Bennett
    Tom Fronczak Brad Nicholson
    Ashley Davis Ben Perlee
    Conrad
    Zimmerman
    Chad Concelmo
    Jonathan Holmes Jonathan Ross
    Brad Rice Jordan Devore
    Will Maddock Matthew Razak
    Dyson Joseph Leray
    Topher Cantler Samit Sarkar
         
      Dexter
    Adam Dork
    Daniel Lingen
    Hollie Bennett
    Joe Burling
    Mikey
    Stella Wong

    Josh Tolentino




     

     
      get involved

    register or login
    post a blog
    post a forum
    enter a contest
    contribute a news tip
    suggest a feature
    be a guest editor
    support

    new member's guide
    login assistance
    tech support
    report abuse
    email our editors
    read our dev blog
    nuclear crisis?
    keep in touch

    RSS feed
    Twitter
    Facebook
    Myspace
    Flickr
    Game nights
    Meetup+play online
    seriously

    about Destructoid
    advertising
    terms of use
    privacy policy
    jobs at MM
    buy our crap
    our network

    Tomopop
    Japanator
    Despingation?




    Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press
    living the dream since March 16, 2006