Mechanized Propulsion Systems, Inc. is building the world’s first bipedal heavy vehicles, also known as mechs, for use in commercial, industrial, and military markets. MPS is actively seeking individuals for Test Pilot positions to complete the layout and functionality of the cockpit, and perform actual operational tests on the final vehicle.

Our design’s adaptability to multiple tasks makes it well suited for construction and agriculture, and our bipedal platform can navigate terrain that is difficult or inaccessible for existing wheeled and tracked vehicles, making it ideal for uses in forestry, mining, disaster response, firefighting, and military applications. MPS seeks individuals with experience testing or operating heavy vehicles in any of these environments to become part of our Test Pilot program. Strong evaluation and problem solving skills, as well as good physical condition, are also among the qualities of an ideal candidate. Hours are highly flexible, though the ability to travel frequently to our facility (in southern California near Edwards Air Force Base) is preferred.

Find out more about our company at www.MechaPS.com, and if you are interested in internship or employment with MPS, just head to our online application at www.MechaPS.com/jobs. Any questions you have about our company or job opportunities can be directed to PR@MechaPS.com.

Mechanized Propulsion Systems, Inc. invites you to help us create the next generation of heavy vehicle technology.

 

Perhaps some pictures are in order? There werent any on the website

 

Krumlink: There are several reasons that we don't display pictures of our in-progress prototype on the website. First of all, they wouldn't be much to look at - what we're doing is exciting because of the novel way that it combines existing technologies to form something new, and we are designing for function, not style, so a lot of what you would see would just look like pictures of normal automotive parts. We do of course have some larger and more impressive sections done (the torso frame, rotation hub, and engine assembly have all been completed), but these we don't show in our to protect our intellectual property. Tests on our part have shown that from one picture of our torso frame, a talented engineering can extrapolate our entire engine set-up, not to mention knowing the exact geometry of the cockpit as well.

So, no pictures. If you have any questions about anything else, feel free to ask. And remember, if you'd be interested in helping, you can have a chance to do cockpit design in the world's first mech as a Test Pilot (just apply at www.MechaPS.com/jobs).

 

Yeah, I should have though that one out. My bad.

What is the target consumer? Military? Homeowner? (although somewhat a bad target)

What kind of applications can this be used for?

 

In short, none. There are no industrial or military applications for which you could justify the cost of operating this product (presuming it will ever exist). It will always be more cost effective to build a track or road to operate wheeled machinery than to have a bi-pedal machine doing an identical activity. My first reaction to MechaPS's post was that it surely must be a spoof site. If not, he and his partners need to seriously reconsider their business plan. It doesn't surprise me the number of "interns" this company is depending on, as there are no current nor foreseeable economic merits to this idea.

 

Hank: Thank you for extending us the benefit of the doubt...

Cost: our vehicles, in a production model, are expected to cost 100 to 500 thousand dollars depending on target market and accessories. In some markets, including forestry and military operations, existing vehicles that perform similar work (less capably) run between 6 and 20 million dollars per unit.

Comparable products: Our vehicles will not perform identically to wheeled and tracked vehicles - they will outperform them. Modular adaptability to different tasks, tools, environmental equipment, and even cockpit setups will allow a bipedal vehicle to deal with more work, faster and in a wider variety of environments than existing equipment. Depending on market, either the extreme modularity of our design or its capability to navigate types and grades of terrain and obstacles that others cannot (or both) will give us a competitive edge versus existing products.

Business plan: Our CEO pursued four collegiate majors, and owned his first business, house, and Porsche before turning nineteen (with zero assistance from family, if that would have been your guess). Our business advisor spent 19 years as CEO of a multimedia marketing firm serving businesses all over southern California, and now teaches marketing at a state university. I think we're covered.

Interns: Internship is a vetting process for potential employees. Even older, experienced individuals undergo internship in order to determine if the unconventional organization and goals of MPS are right for them, and if they are fit to become Team members. If Internships are up, it simply reflects an increase in the number of people interested in becoming part of our growing company.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to discuss some of these aspects of MPS. If anyone has any other questions or concerns, I'd be happy to address them.

 

Krumlink: Target markets include all of uses mentioned in the original Test Pilot recruitment message above - construction, forestry, mining, firefighting, disaster response, and even military operations (though more likely as construction vehicles with limited standoff capability than as frontline combatants). Homeowners are certainly not a target market, unless of course they're already the kind of people who would collect things like bulldozers or tanks and park them on the front lawn.

 

You're a master of gross generalizations. Presume I'm either (your choice) a military or any kind of industry investor. Describe to me in detail (and again, your choice) any actual, existing process and how your product can do it better (cheaper, faster). Your product is useless to me if I have to design it myself in order to suit my needs. What have you got that I don't have already, or can't get for cheaper or less effort elsewhere?

My advice to you is that your owner and business advisor are taking you for a ride. If they have a history of success, as you've said, everything about your company tells me that they got that way because they're parasites. Get out of your obligations with them and dedicate yourself to a more fruitful venture.

 

What makes you positive this will be a success? what happens when a part fails? what guarantees can you make? What is the benefit of this as compared to any other proven and working system?

 

I have to side with Hank on this one.

The idea sounds ridiculous as anything that will ever be of commercial importance.

Tracks will always outperform "legs" on rough ground. Go stand on a plie of big rocks. notice how you look for places to place your feet, then look at all the places you are bending and twisting to adjust your body to the un even surface. How would a machine ever be able to accomplish just that? Now take a walk on the rocks. Hard, eh?

On hills, nothing beats the low center of gravity a tracked vehical has. A legged vehical will have a very high center of gravity and will be prone to tipping over if you can even get it to stand on a hill in the first place.

In mud or soft ground, tracks spread out the weight of the vehical to keep it from sinking (or help to anyway) Anything that walks, will have to shift all its weight onto one foot to take a step.

And you can't beat the wheel for speed, economy and simplicty. 1000's of years have proved that already.

And for the record, I do happen to have a bulldozer in my yard!

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I have to side with hank and andy on this (for once )

It is a very cool CONCEPT, but putting in into PRACTICE is useless. I appologize for your misconception. With the technology today you still can't create those robots you see in cartoons and etc. I would re-direct your company's focus into improving VTOL technology. For example, take a helicopter body (exclude blades) and put a VTOL system on it. That is a more innovative field.

I am sorry, but the only LEGIT field I think mechs would work, is for the military

 

On a similar point, how can you expect to be taken seriously when you're posting to find staff on an Internet forum?.

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after looking at the website, I can't belive the stuff you are selling....

How do you have mech parts and no working mechs? Don't the mechs need those parts? Are are you simply engraving old car parts as the picture implys.....

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The concept of recruiting "test pilots" on an internet forum devoted to electronics seems highly suspect. What is required of a test pilot is a great deal of hand-eye coordination and superb physical conditioning. These are hardly the traits of us geeky EE's and hobbyist types. This one is a complete knee slapper. I expect that you and your partners will lose small fortunes on this ill-conceived fiasco.

Ptttthhwatttt.....(A Bronx cheer)!

 

Please run a few tests before you load the gatling gun...