National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC), Carnegie Mellon University · military or security robot
Crusher
A six-wheeled, six-tonne autonomous off-road research vehicle built for DARPA to test how robots could cross rough terrain on their own.
- Price
- —Not published
- Height
- —Not published
- Weight
- 6000 kgHeavier than 89%
- Payload
- 3600 kgCarries more than 83%
- Speed
- 42.0 km/hFaster than 84%
- Battery
- —Not published
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Why it matters
A retired machine from Carnegie Mellon University NREC (for DARPA).
Real-world use
DARPA UPI programme; no plans to put it into service
Maker
National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC), Carnegie Mellon UniversityUniversity lab · founded 1994 · Pittsburgh, United StatesStarted with a US$2.5 million NASA seed grant; sponsors include NASA, DARPA, the US Department of Transportation, Air Force Research Laboratory…
How it stacks up
Against other military & security that publish the figure. Pick a measure.
Crusher is heavier than 89% of the 35 other military & security that publish a weight. Bars show the 7 closest in date.
Crusher is faster than 84% of the 31 other military & security that publish a speed. Bars show the 7 closest in date.
Crusher carries more than 83% of the 18 other military & security that publish a payload. Bars show the 7 closest in date.
Not published by the maker: height, joints, battery, price.
Public attention
A historic robot: no longer sold or in use, so it is not ranked against current machines.
- 588 views of its Wikipedia article in the last 90 days (Crusher (robot))
- No recent press stories listed yet
Measures how much people read and write about a robot, not how good it is. Measured 2026-10-13; same method for every robot. How it is measured
What’s inside
The parts the company has talked about publicly.
- Movement
- Wheeled base
- How it runs
- Fully autonomous. It drove itself across challenging off-road terrain.
- Actuators & motors
- Hybrid diesel-electric drive (a VW Jetta diesel engine recharges the battery); suspension raises and lowers about 76 cm; wheels 1.26 m diameter.
- Sensors & vision
- Five 1.9-megapixel colour cameras giving a 200-degree view, plus perception sensors.
- Materials & build
- Aluminium and titanium space frame with skid plates.
- AI & software
- GPS waypoint autonomy that finds its own path around obstacles; operators also used video-game controllers.
- Other details
- About 6,000 kg; carries 3,600 kg of armour and cargo; up to 42 km/h for short bursts. Data link was a 1 km fibre-optic cable in tests.
From the maker
Crusher is the only machine from Carnegie Mellon University NREC (for DARPA) in the atlas.
National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC), Carnegie Mellon University also makes 1 humanoid. See every National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC), Carnegie Mellon University robot
Watch Crusher
Made, sold and where
Unit counts are usually company figures; analysts often disagree.
- Price
- Not published
- How to get one
- No official buying page found
- Built
- Research prototypes
- Sold or delivered
- not sold
- Where it is sold or used
- Carnegie Mellon NREC, Pittsburgh
- Customers and pilots
- DARPA UPI programme; no plans to put it into service
Sources
Figures come from press coverage. Every link below backs something on this page.
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