Russia's rocket launcher-carrying, robot ninja dog was likely bought off Alibaba

[midian182]

WTF?! Russia has unveiled a robotic dog that carries an anti-tank rocket launcher on its back. While such a creation has plenty of scary, Black Mirror-style implications, it appears to be little more than a $2,700 machine purchasable from Alibaba, carrying an RPG it might not be able to fire very well (or at all), and dressed like a dog-ninja, for some reason.

President Vladimir Putin opened Russia's "Army 2022" arms expo, which runs until August 22 at the Patriot Park in Kubinka, just outside Moscow. Among the many military weapons, vehicles, and other accessories on show was the M-81, a canine-like quadrupedal robot resembling Boston Dynamics' famous Spot, except it carries an RPG-26 on its back and is dressed in a ninja-yoroi.

Russian news agency RIA Novosti posted a video of the M-81 scuttling about and lying down at the expo, which would have been quite cute were it not hauling around a weapon of mass destruction.

Video of the M-81 robot-dog armed with an RPG-26 at the Army 2022 defense expo. https://t.co/rUnwoCMoyS pic.twitter.com/BEDjnwstN0

— Rob Lee (@RALee85) August 15, 2022

The creators said, "this is a sample of the M-81 robotic system, capable of conducting aimed shooting and transporting weapons, and for civilian purposes it can be used in the emergency zone for reconnaissance, passage through rubble and delivery of medicines."

While the description sounds mildly concerning, The Drive did some digging and found the dog looks suspiciously like Unitree Robotic's UnitreeYushuTechnologyDog, available from Chinese marketplace Alibaba for as little as $2,700. That probably explains why it's dressed like a little ninja: to hide its origins rather than to scare/confuse enemies or lull them into a false sense of security. Spot, for comparison, costs around $75,000.

"https://t.co/ZuyA2kIzDX

— Rob Lee (@RALee85) August 15, 2022

Assuming this really is one of Unitree's models, and it certainly appears that way, it means the dog was not produced by the Russian manufacturer showing it off—beyond them slapping a rocket launcher on its back—and it's certainly not designed for use in a military scenario. This thing is unlikely to last long in a combat zone, even with the ninja garb.

There's also a question of how well the robot operates the weapon. It might be able to carry the RPG-26 anti-tank rocket launcher, but whether it could aim or stand the shock of firing is another matter, despite the comparatively light recoil.

It seems Unitree's robot dogs are popular for this sort of thing. Russian-born inventor Alexander Atamanov showed one off with a submachine gun strapped to its back last month.

There was another robot dog, this one from Ghost Robotics, carrying a Special Purpose Unmanned Rifle, or SPUR, on show at the Association of the U.S. Army's main annual convention in Washington, D.C, last October. That particular machine (above) looked a lot more intimidating than ninja dog.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/95639-russia-rocket-launcher-carrying-robot-ninja-dog-likely.html

 

[Uncle Al]

I got an outside cat that might be able to handle a couple Roman Candles .....

 

[WhoCaresAnymore]

That's funny as hell. One shot and it would be flung backwards a mile (unless it had sufficient weight and balance). It's a one shot wonder that would miss. No stable platform to fire from.

 

[Endymio]

...which would have been quite cute were it not hauling around a weapon of mass destruction.

An RPG is not an WMD. Let's use terms correctly, shall we?

That's funny as hell. One shot and it would be flung backwards a mile (unless it had sufficient weight and balance). It's a one shot wonder that would miss.

An RPG is a one-shot weapon. And from the video, it appears the robot is designed to "sploot" before firing. Assuming clear line-of-sight, it should be stable enough.

 

[Farkinell]

I don’t think anyone is Russian to buy their weapons after the absolute embarrassment that is Ukraine

 

[erickmendes]

One drone carrying an RPG is scary... But a swarm of little drones, that's nightmare fuel.. Even the US Army is already making exercises to figure out how to defend agains drone swarms.

 

[BadThad]

Another step closer to Terminator!

 

[TheBigT42]

I got an outside cat that might be able to handle a couple Roman Candles .....

Here is a drone with some roman candles on it

 

[wiyosaya]

I suppose this is supposed to terrify Ukraine or any other country Russia does not like ATM?

Russian desperation exemplified by this propaganda.

 

[wiyosaya]

Another step closer to Terminator!

Russia wants you to think they are already Terminator.

 

[sac39507]

This would've given those Uvalde cops some huevos

 

[Endymio]

Russian desperation exemplified by this propaganda.

First of all, it's the same trade show Russia's put on every year for the last half-century. As for "desperation", in the last 4 months, Russia's gained control of Kherson, Mariupol, Severodonetsk, all of Luhansk Province, and the land bridge to Crimea. This despite the US and NATO feeding Ukraine real-time satellite intel and advanced weaponry equal to Russia's entire annual military budget. The Russian ruble is up some 250% against the US dollar since sanctions were placed, their GDP is growing again, and Putin's approval rating is up 25 percentage points since the war began -- about as much as Biden's has dropped over the same period.

Given the US spent 20 years trying and failing to pacify the most backwards nation on earth, against a Taliban armed primarily with nothing but 50-year old rifles and home-made bombs, I don't think Russia looks too desperate right now.

 

[Faelan]

Given the US spent 20 years trying and failing to pacify the most backwards nation on earth, against a Taliban armed primarily with nothing but 50-year old rifles and home-made bombs, I don't think Russia looks too desperate right now.

Which is why Russia will ultimately fail in Ukraine despite how much land they manage to occupy over time in Ukraine. The entire Soviet Union couldn’t deal with the same backwards nation that the US failed against. How on earth is Russia going to deal with a country that is much less backwards and more capable?

 

[Endymio]

How on earth is Russia going to deal with a country that is much less backwards and more capable?

A good question, but fortunately easy to answer. At some point the US gets tired of dumping tens of billions of dollars into the Black Hole of Kiev, then Russia and Ukraine come to terms. Russia will keep the eastern quarter that's filled with ethnic Russians who've been fighting the last decade to leave Ukraine, and Ukraine will keep the remaining 3/4 that isn't. Which is probably how the lines should have been originally drawn back in 1991, when Ukraine first formed.

 

[dangh]

The Russian ruble is up some 250% against the US dollar since sanctions were placed, their GDP is growing again, and Putin's approval rating is up 25 percentage points since the war began

"Tell me you have no idea how economy works without telling me you have no idea how economy works"
As for support for Puttler never ever said russians are smart people. They are feed propaganda and vodka from tzar era.

 

[Vulcanproject]

So advanced domestic Russian arms production is basically a Chinese built robot full of no doubt Western sourced and/or developed software, sensors, processors and other technologies. Just like their missiles then.

 

[Endymio]

"Tell me you have no idea how economy works [sic] without [sic] telling me you have no idea how economy works"
As for support for Puttler never ever [sic] said russians [sic] are smart people. They are feed [sic] propaganda and vodka from [sic] tzar era.

Why, your articulate presentation has entirely convinced me. A growing GDP, strengthening currency, and record levels of exports sold at record high prices are all sure signs of disaster.

In other news, up is down, water isn't wet, and Joe Biden actually knows what state he's in.

 

[Faelan]

A good question, but fortunately easy to answer. At some point the US gets tired of dumping tens of billions of dollars into the Black Hole of Kiev, then Russia and Ukraine come to terms. Russia will keep the eastern quarter that's filled with ethnic Russians who've been fighting the last decade to leave Ukraine, and Ukraine will keep the remaining 3/4 that isn't. Which is probably how the lines should have been originally drawn back in 1991, when Ukraine first formed.

I have a sneaking suspicion that the US won’t get tired of dumping countless billions into this until they’ve reached their goal of weakening Russia to the point where Russia is no longer a relevant country other than ‘they got nukes’. What the US has given so far is peanuts compared to their annual military spending. This is a very cost effective way for them to reduce Russia’s military capability. Right now, it’s Europe that’s hurting the most in the west due to their own stupidity, but that will improve in time once they find alternatives to Russian gas.

But even if we assume your scenario comes to fruition, from a purely financial perspective, I find it hard to believe it will be worth it. All that for a little bit of land?

Let’s be real here. Putin thought Ukraine would just roll over like a happy puppy and let him take everything in a matter of days. What actually happened was that he rammed his dingdong into a hornet’s nest. The best he can hope for now is a Pyrrhic victory, and a very expensive one at that. I suspect that is what he is hoping for as history has a tendency to focus more on the big events and people rather than the nitty gritty numbers. He cares more about having his name in the history books than the people who had to die for that.

 

[Vulcanproject]

I have a sneaking suspicion that the US won’t get tired of dumping countless billions into this until they’ve reached their goal of weakening Russia to the point where Russia is no longer a relevant country other than ‘they got nukes’. What the US has given so far is peanuts compared to their annual military spending. This is a very cost effective way for them to reduce Russia’s military capability. Right now, it’s Europe that’s hurting the most in the west due to their own stupidity, but that will improve in time once they find alternatives to Russian gas.

But even if we assume your scenario comes to fruition, from a purely financial perspective, I find it hard to believe it will be worth it. All that for a little bit of land?

Let’s be real here. Putin thought Ukraine would just roll over like a happy puppy and let him take everything in a matter of days. What actually happened was that he rammed his dingdong into a hornet’s nest. The best he can hope for now is a Pyrrhic victory, and a very expensive one at that. I suspect that is what he is hoping for as history has a tendency to focus more on the big events and people rather than the nitty gritty numbers. He cares more about having his name in the history books than the people who had to die for that.

Russia is boned. Putin is wrecking their economy longer term for a nothing piece of land they can't afford to hold, let alone rebuild after they flattened it to take it. If it wasn't so deadly it would be quite a comically ill advised misadventure.

As soon as anyone invokes the 'but the currency is sky high!' argument you know they don't have a clue about capital controls or the first thing about the Russian economy so don't bother engaging.

 

[Endymio]

As soon as anyone invokes the 'but the currency is sky high!' argument you know they don't have a clue about capital controls

You're several months behind the times. Russia dropped nearly all such controls long ago:

Apr 8, 2022: "The Russian central bank announced that it would scrap a 12 percent commission for buying foreign currency...The bank also said it will lift a temporary ban on selling foreign exchange cash starting April 18....

Jul 21, 2022: "Bucking the global trend, Russia lowers interest rates again.
Russia’s central bank cut its interest rate from 9.5% to 8 percent, lower than before the invasion of Ukraine....the central bank had temporarily raised rates to 20% back in March....

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia’s central bank will allow banks from all countries to trade foreign currencies on the Russian forex markets, the regulator said on Wednesday..."

The people that truly have no clue are those who fail to understand that when a country is selling record quantities of its primary exports at record-high prices, its currency naturally strengthens dramatically.

Putin is wrecking their economy longer term for a nothing piece of land

Except it has nothing whatsoever to do with that "nothing piece of land" of course. It has to do with a lengthy series of provocations on both sides, stretching back years, most of which I'm quite sure you've never heard of.

 

[Endymio]

....until they’ve reached their goal of weakening Russia...What the US has given so far is peanuts compared to their annual military spending.

The US has approved $54B to Ukraine in the last five months. That's 17% of the US military budget over the same period -- far from "peanuts". Furthermore, it's clearly not weakening Russia militarily. Their primary losses so far are conscripts (of which they get 1 million new ones per year), and some Cold-war era tanks that are nearly useless in modern warfare.

In exchange for that, Russia is getting an opportunity to hone its combined-arms tactics against US weaponry and US-trained soldiers -- its first such opportunity in half a century. Russia is also, for the first time in 30 years, increasing its defense budget and funding production of new weapons system.

When the war first began, Russia's initial failures were due to its reliance on Cold-war era tactics. Now we've taught them better ... and they're learning more every day. Yes, they've had 15,000 casualties-- but they get 30,000 new troops a month. More, if Putin decides to finally call this an actual war, which gives him authority to begin mobilizing Russia's two-million man reserve force. The Russian military today is stronger than it was six months ago ... which explains why it's more successful, despite the flood of US weaponry reaching Ukraine now.

 

[kiwigraeme]

First of all, it's the same trade show Russia's put on every year for the last half-century. As for "desperation", in the last 4 months, Russia's gained control of Kherson, Mariupol, Severodonetsk, all of Luhansk Province, and the land bridge to Crimea. This despite the US and NATO feeding Ukraine real-time satellite intel and advanced weaponry equal to Russia's entire annual military budget. The Russian ruble is up some 250% against the US dollar since sanctions were placed, their GDP is growing again, and Putin's approval rating is up 25 percentage points since the war began -- about as much as Biden's has dropped over the same period.

Given the US spent 20 years trying and failing to pacify the most backwards nation on earth, against a Taliban armed primarily with nothing but 50-year old rifles and home-made bombs, I don't think Russia looks too desperate right now.

Some nice fantasy there - as for Afganistan - the USSR slaughter 2 million innocents compared to the 20 -30 thousand of USA . When the USSR had to retreat beaten -using your logic helicopter gunships vs Lee-enfield rifles .
As for the ruble - that increase is completely artificial and has no meaning in Russian day to day life.
Ie Russians are also facing inflation at supermarkets etc with their mighty ruble - so it shows it's artificial - western tech is hard to get and very expensive .
Yes as you said a month ago they removed dollar buying limit - but this is only for electronic USD - the banks don't even mix these USD with your real USD account .
You can only spend these "USD" on a few places - none really in west .
People receiving real US dollars from overseas are being hit with 10% fees on incoming money - eg russian youtubers .
You can not buy actual US cash at this rate in Russia - ( maybe the corrupt Oligarchy can ) .

Russia is still making sales to India and China - but at big discounts.
What you know and I know Russia has a huge supply decline problem - ie Russians import of necessary machinery , raw materials , tech is going well down .
Considering Russia is a gas station with nuclear bombs - and you manufacture nothing that people want - Your Arms Industry orders are being cancelled by the likes of India - when people see your Su-25s , your T72, T90 easily taken out just by weapons carry by a single person.
As for the special intervention to denazify Ukraine ( ie remove their culture ) - Russia has gained nothing of note for a month. Your Artillery has slowed - depots , airfields taken out due to careless smoking of your soldiers .
Lets see how Kherson goes in the next month - then winter will come . This war is forever to rid Russia completely from Crimea & Donbass

Will Putin call a draft ? will Moscow and St Petersburg mums and dads send their sons to die instead of those from far Eastern regions .
Russia has lost - it's just by how much - who would invest there ?
The govt from Kyiv will supply Western Europe's gas in future - ha even - imagine how much Hungary and Gazprom will have to pay to transit through Ukraine

 

[Janke]

Their primary losses so far are conscripts (of which they get 1 million new ones per year), and some Cold-war era tanks that are nearly useless in modern warfare.

Funniest **** I've read so far here. I'll agree that a lot of modern russian vechicles re-use cold war era technology, but if that's nearly useless in modern warfare, then the reserves won't be any better. Unless you believe any of the non-existing Armata's will roll out :')

 

[Vulcanproject]

You're several months behind the times. Russia dropped nearly all such controls long ago:

Apr 8, 2022: "The Russian central bank announced that it would scrap a 12 percent commission for buying foreign currency...The bank also said it will lift a temporary ban on selling foreign exchange cash starting April 18....

Jul 21, 2022: "Bucking the global trend, Russia lowers interest rates again.
Russia’s central bank cut its interest rate from 9.5% to 8 percent, lower than before the invasion of Ukraine....the central bank had temporarily raised rates to 20% back in March....

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia’s central bank will allow banks from all countries to trade foreign currencies on the Russian forex markets, the regulator said on Wednesday..."

The people that truly have no clue are those who fail to understand that when a country is selling record quantities of its primary exports at record-high prices, its currency naturally strengthens dramatically.

Except it has nothing whatsoever to do with that "nothing piece of land" of course. It has to do with a lengthy series of provocations on both sides, stretching back years, most of which I'm quite sure you've never heard of.

They haven't removed all such controls. Especially not the ones that matter. Eased from the extremes that were first enacted, but absolutely not dropped.

There is a massive difference and the Ruble remains manipulated by capital controls that still require the population and Russian businesses to buy Rubles at levels set by government decree. Not to mention the government is still spending large foreign reserves to pump the Ruble. They need to try keeping exports competitive by lowering the value of the currency they artificially inflated, without crashing it. So they ease, but it is still the primary reason why the Ruble is so high.

It certainly isn't because the Russian economy is fine as you would like people to think, because that myth peddled by pro Russian propagandists is not true when you peek behind the curtain.

I'm not engaging with you further because you are clearly trying to create a false narrative with intentional presentation of only half truths and/or obvious lack of understanding.

 

[Farkinell]

You're several months behind the times. Russia dropped nearly all such controls long ago:

Apr 8, 2022: "The Russian central bank announced that it would scrap a 12 percent commission for buying foreign currency...The bank also said it will lift a temporary ban on selling foreign exchange cash starting April 18....

Jul 21, 2022: "Bucking the global trend, Russia lowers interest rates again.
Russia’s central bank cut its interest rate from 9.5% to 8 percent, lower than before the invasion of Ukraine....the central bank had temporarily raised rates to 20% back in March....

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia’s central bank will allow banks from all countries to trade foreign currencies on the Russian forex markets, the regulator said on Wednesday..."

The people that truly have no clue are those who fail to understand that when a country is selling record quantities of its primary exports at record-high prices, its currency naturally strengthens dramatically.

Except it has nothing whatsoever to do with that "nothing piece of land" of course. It has to do with a lengthy series of provocations on both sides, stretching back years, most of which I'm quite sure you've never heard of.

You keep talking about how great the Russian export market is. The primary thing Russia exports is oil and gas, they have nothing else of value to the rest of the world. War crimes don’t count.

The economy has fared the sanctions better than expected as the EU and countries like Germany have been propping it up by continuing to purchase gas. Once this single source of revenue is cut off then the economy is screwed. It’s already declined 4% this quarter according to Bloomberg this week. Other factors including a ban on chips are starting to bite, which is why we’re seeing widespread reports of chips from looted white goods cropping up in unusual places.

Sanctions are a long game, as economic effects take time to trickle down into tangible results.

p.s your comment about the Russian military being stronger is laughable. They’re still using Cold War tactics and equipment, as clearly due incompetence and corruption that’s all they have. Turns out the big scary bear was just a chihuahua in a fur coat.