Walking truck
The Walking Truck ("walking truck"), also known as the Cybernetic Walking Machine, is a four-legged, piloted walking robot - prototype from General Electric from 1970. The walking truck was commissioned from General Electric by the US Army in 1966 , by Ralph S. Mosher and delivered to the US Army in August 1970. The Army wanted a heavy vehicle for the infantry to move heavy loads over extremely difficult terrain.
The walking truck could be steered with its four legs using hydraulic servos , as no on-board computers were installed. The driver controlled the front pair of legs with his hands and the rear pair of legs with the pedals. It was easy to control, a driver could learn all movements such as forward and sideways movements, turns and diagonal balancing on one front and one rear leg in two hours . In all interior tests in the factory halls, the walking truck was secured with a safety rope so that it did not fall over during the test drives over obstacles. During tests in outdoor facilities, he managed without a crane and balanced himself over obstacles.
The walking truck weighs 1500 kg. The truck was able to transport 250 kg of cargo through extremely difficult terrain, which was not possible for other transport vehicles. It had a top speed of five miles an hour and the traction to pull out a jeep stuck in the mud .
The US Army stopped the project because they instead used transport helicopters to move heavy loads over difficult terrain. The US patent for the walking truck is number 5346027.
The walking truck is on display at the US Army Transportation Museum at Fort Eustis near Newport News , Virginia .
See also
Web links
- General Electric Walking Truck 1968 (English)
- Walking Truck on cyberneticzoo.com (English)