14 DAY TRIAL // As Sky Linx would say, "Save your ammunition, Autobots! Superior forces are taking over!" Well, there are never too many "Transformers" bots rolling out from the hidden alien factories. Therefore, some heavy names in the robotic industry, such as the manufacturer of the famous Talon and Swords robots have recently introduces their new project.
This time they came up with a cool new Modular Advanced Armed Robotic System. The bot was nicknamed MAARS. Compared to its dusty predecessors, this guy features a 50%, otherwise 2.5mph increase in speed, as well as a more powerful M240B Medium Machine Gun, a higher torque, a bigger payload bay and more. It was also enhanced with some cool resistant safety features.
As for its appearance, its main attraction is its modular shape that allows the bot to activate the built-in gun turret to be switched with an easy to handle manipulator arm, used in the process of neutralization of the roadside bombs. This can only lead to the conclusion that we won't see any of these cold blooded bots, unless enrolling in the US Army and going to Iraq or Afghanistan, just as it happened when they bought the Packbots.
Anyway, the modular design bot was exclusively developed by QinetiQ North America's Foster Miller, as a result of a combination between the Talon bot and SWORD's internal platform. The novelty is the new function of transforming the weapon into a manipulator arm, quite versatile, given the amount of weight it has to carry, when participating in special missions.
As Gizmag reports, Talon usage was adopted by the US Government in the early 2000s and since then, it has proved its utility in operations involving surveillance, explosive ordnance disposal and difficult rescue operations after 9/11. SWORDS were first tested in Kuwait; after that, they were deployed in Iraq, as the first bot to be sent into a combat zone, ever.
All in all, MAARS seems to be targeting only "safety" related uses. It features a battlefield map, as well as other additional options that facilitate battery charging and all sorts of electronic devices customizing.
Price: not known! MAARS, transform!
