Video: Little Dragon Runner 'Bot Gets a Grip

The 14-pound, 16-inch Dragon Runner robot was originally developed for the Marines, to be a tiny little spy. Now, the machine has been given an upgrade. And its ready for a bunch of new missions -- including handling roadside bombs.

The biggest improvement to the 'bot is that it can now be configured and reconfigured in all kinds of ways. The machine used to roll on wheels only. Now, it can be outfitted with tracks, to handle rougher terrain, or to climb stairs. For surveillance duty, operators can add cameras, motion detectors, and microphones.

Troops can hook on a pint-sized gripper arm, with a rotating shoulder. That lets the packback-sized 'bot grab small explosives, if necessary. Here's a video, of just such a mission:


Lil' Dragon Runner 'Bot Gets Grippy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1rlE...little-dr.html

Ellie