A Small Rolling Spy for the Marines

May 24 -- High-flying, unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) have helped soldiers spot and fight terrorists in Afghanistan's hilly terrain. But some military planners believe that UAVs won't be as useful in future battles — especially those that will take place in urban landscapes and buildings.

In such confined spaces, soldiers would be more concerned with more immediate dangers — such as threats around the next corner, as well as what's behind the building across the street.

So instead of high-flying UAVs, many researchers and military planners have been thinking more down to earth.

Enter the Dragon Runner.

Designed by the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab in Quantico, Va., the Dragon Runner is a flat, remote-controlled dune buggy that resembles the type of toy found at many hobby shops.

Just like a UAV, the mini-buggy contains radio gear and a camera that allows a soldier to wirelessly control the vehicle and spy out suspicious areas from safe distances.

Video Game Controls

But since the Marines designed the remote-controlled buggy specifically for urban combat situations, the Dragon Runner is unique from other robo-vehicles.

Built by a team of researchers from the Naval Research Laboratory and Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute, Dragon Runner contains software that makes it extremely easy to operate.

According to Major Greg Heines, a Marine attached to the Warfighting Lab project, the remote control unit for Dragon Runner resembles those found on most handheld video game systems. "Most of the 18- and 19-year old Marines will pick up [how to drive it] in a few minutes," he says. "Heck, I'm almost 40 and I have no problems."

Toss 'n' Go or Sit 'n' Watch

Another interesting feature: The Dragon Runner has a flexible handle at the back that allows the nine pound robot to be thrown through a window, over a wall or up a flight of stairs. But its shape — broad and flat with big bouncy wheels at the four corners — will almost always force the vehicle to land with all its wheels on the ground.