Chapter 23

The dividends of the energy upgrade continued to be released.

The pace of R&D in "Tie Lang Gong Fang" noticeably accelerated; the air seemed filled with the crackling of electrical charges.

Feng Yan, as the team's actual coordinator.

Keenly realized that the power of individual equipment was only the foundation; true combat effectiveness.

Especially the "systematic nature" to be demonstrated to national-level experts, lay in collaborative combat capability.

Thus, the collaborative test codenamed "Gear Meshing" was officially put on the schedule.

That morning, Feng Yan stood with his arms crossed in the relatively empty area in the center of the warehouse.

Like a commander briefing a special agent squad, although his team members had a rather peculiar style.

"Today, we aren't doing individual heroism; let's have some team coordination!"

Feng Yan cleared his throat, trying hard to make his tone sound professional.

"Simulated scenario: rapid reconnaissance and emergency supply delivery in a complex, unfamiliar environment."

"Li Yang, your 'Iron Wolf' will act as the main force and vanguard, responsible for forward area reconnaissance, path clearing, and security;"

"Wang Hao, control 'Xiao Bai' as a support unit, responsible for following the 'Iron Wolf'."

"Conduct fine reconnaissance in close-range, low-clearance spaces, and at the critical moment, quickly pass 'important supplies' into the hands of the 'Iron Wolf';"

"Chen Guang, your laser system will temporarily serve as the 'Long-range Precision Support Unit' (simulated)."

"Provide information processing and support from the rear, and stand by to execute specific commands."

Li Yang nodded, already beginning to skillfully put on his power-filled "Iron Wolf" exoskeleton, his movements meticulous.

Wang Hao squatted next to "Xiao Bai," checking the sensors while muttering incessantly.

As if instructing his own child going on a long trip for the first time: "Doggy, did you hear that? Stick close to Brother Li today; he's the big shot!"

"Be smart, don't go charging into pits like a fool, and don't get distracted just because you see a shiny screw. We're here to execute a mission, not to scavenge for junk..."

Chen Guang quietly adjusted the angle of his laser equipment, ensuring it was in a safe, low-power simulation mode.

It wouldn't actually emit a laser beam strong enough to cause damage.

At the same time, he switched the main display to receive the real-time video data stream sent back by "Iron Wolf" and "Xiao Bai."

The test site was still chosen to be the familiar abandoned factory area behind the mountain.

The first collaborative test officially began.

Li Yang operated "Iron Wolf" to be the first to step out of the warehouse.

The heavy metal feet stepped on the gravel-covered ground, making a steady "clank-clank" sound.

His helmet integrated various sensors.

It transmitted the real-time forward view and environmental data back to the computer screen in front of Chen Guang.

"Field of view ahead is clear; no obvious obstacles detected."

Li Yang's slightly metallic, emotionless voice came through the "Iron Wolf" built-in communicator.

"Xiao Bai received the command! Initiating follow-reconnaissance mode!"

Wang Hao issued the order to "Xiao Bai" via the remote control in his hand.

The robot dog started immediately, its four mechanical legs moving in coordination, making a brisk "tap-tap" sound.

It followed closely about two meters behind and to the side of "Iron Wolf."

The camera on its head swung left and right constantly.

Scanning the ground and low obstacles, the data stream synchronized to Chen Guang.

For the first few dozen meters, it was smooth sailing, and the coordination looked decent.

Feng Yan watched from the side, a feeling of "it's stable" just beginning to rise in his heart.

Reality couldn't wait to start slapping him in the face.

"Xiao Bai! Too close! Your front left claw is about to scrape my hydraulic buffer tube!"

Li Yang's voice came through the communicator, carrying a hint of imperceptible tension.

Through the returned footage, one could see "Xiao Bai" was almost pressed against the calf of "Iron Wolf."

Wang Hao hurriedly lowered his head and frantically rubbed the joystick on the remote:

"Oh, sorry, Old Li! Once this doggy's speed goes up, the follow logic has a bit of a bug; it follows too closely!"

"I'll adjust the follow parameters..."

A while later, when "Iron Wolf" was carefully passing through a complex section filled with steel bars and broken concrete.

In the returned footage, "Xiao Bai" had suddenly stopped next to a rusty, abandoned tire half-buried in the ground.

The camera was fixed on the tread pattern of the tire, as if contemplating a philosophical question.

"Old Wang! Get 'Xiao Bai' to keep up! Stop studying archaeology there! Execute the reconnaissance mission!"

Feng Yan watched the screen and couldn't help but shout into the communication channel.

"It's performing multi-angle target feature extraction! This is an important part of deep learning!"

Wang Hao argued with his neck stiff, his fingers pressing even more urgently on the remote.

Chen Guang stared at the data from the side and spoke softly.

His voice transmitted clearly to everyone's ears through the communicator:

"Based on the analysis of its sensor data stream and the duration of its posture stay."

"The probability that it identified the tire is 87%, but focusing continuously for over 5 seconds is more likely a trigger of an unknown environmental interaction bug."

"Or... it simply thinks the rust pattern on that tire is more artistic..."

Feng Yan, Li Yang: "..."

Wang Hao: "... Brother Guang, life is hard enough, don't tear it apart!"

The scene that made people even more unable to laugh or cry was yet to come.

To increase the difficulty and realism of the test, Feng Yan added an extra step:

"Now, simulating that 'Iron Wolf' urgently needs a specific tool! 'Xiao Bai', please take the 'important supplies' you are carrying."

(A box of hex keys that Wang Hao had casually placed on it earlier)

"Deliver it quickly and safely to the hands of 'Iron Wolf'!"

Wang Hao took a deep breath and controlled "Xiao Bai" to steadily pick up the box of keys with its mechanical claw.

Adjusting its direction, it ran quickly toward "Iron Wolf," which was standing guard in an open space ahead.

Seeing the distance getting closer and closer, Li Yang also controlled "Iron Wolf" to bend over slightly and extend its mechanical hand to receive it.

At this critical moment, "Xiao Bai" was two or three meters away from Li Yang.

It suddenly slammed on the brakes, loosened its mechanical claw, and dropped the box of keys onto the ground with a "clatter."

Then... it actually turned around and ran.

It rushed to a cluster of particularly lush foxtail grass nearby.

Excitedly, it began to paw at it with its mechanical claw, and even tried to rub against it with its "nose" (a multi-functional composite sensor).

The entire test site instantly fell into an eerie silence.

In the communication channel, only the rustling of the wind through the weeds remained.

After several seconds, Wang Hao's voice, filled with a crying tone, finally sounded:

"This... this isn't in any of the follow programs I added! Ancestor!"

Chen Guang calmly delivered the finishing blow:

"Behavioral pattern cannot match the existing instruction set."

"Preliminary judgment: it is possible that the underlying motion control logic and high-level task logic conflicted under specific environmental stimuli."

"Causing the task to be interrupted and triggering some kind of... um... exploratory behavior."

Li Yang looked at the lonely box of keys on the ground and was silent for a moment.

Through the exoskeleton's built-in communicator, his tone carried a resigned calmness:

"... Brother Feng, I request to walk over and pick it up myself."

"Or, next time, give it a storage box, and I'll carry it myself."

Feng Yan held his forehead, feeling his temples throbbing.

The ideal collaborative combat of future warriors, smooth and tacit.

In the first real-world joint drill, it unexpectedly turned into a comedy scene of "chickens flying and dogs jumping" and "getting in each other's way."

But he didn't feel disappointed or discouraged.

Instead, he felt this was the most authentic R&D process—all the problems.

Especially collaboration problems, only reveal themselves during actual cooperation.

Discover them, solve them.

Only then can this team truly evolve from a "gang" into a "team."

The test ended in a joyful yet helpless atmosphere.

Back at the warehouse, the four of them didn't even have time to rest and immediately gathered around the computer.

Replaying the test footage, analyzing every point of failure in coordination frame by frame.

"The primary problem is that 'Xiao Bai's' intelligent follow algorithm needs optimization."

"Dynamic obstacle avoidance and distance maintenance logic must be added; it can't just simply follow the vehicle."

Li Yang pointed to the scene in the footage where "Xiao Bai" almost hit the hydraulic tube.

"The instruction set I added also needs to be refined; it can't just have 'follow' and 'transport'."

"There must be clearer sub-tasks and priority judgments."

Wang Hao admitted, the chaotic situation just now made him realize the problem.

"The coupling between the visual recognition system and task logic needs to be strengthened to avoid interference from irrelevant environmental features."

"Or at least have stronger task self-recovery capabilities," Chen Guang suggested from the algorithmic level.

Feng Yan summarized:

"Discovering problems is the greatest harvest! This shows our test has value."

"For the next collaborative test, we will set more specific, phased collaborative processes."

"For example, practice the basic 'inseparable' first, then conquer 'precision delivery'."

Although the test process was full of various unexpected "surprises."

Everyone understood that this was the only way to reach the "national team" level.

It was a key step for the R&D project to move from single equipment display to system integration demonstration.

During the evening break, the aroma of instant noodles drifted through the warehouse.

The four of them ate their "working meal" while simultaneously taking out their phones.

Soon, the 【Tie Lang Gong Fang (Core Backbone Edition)】 WeChat group became lively.

【Wang Hao: (Shared a "Doggy is dumb. jpg" meme) Lost so much face today!】

【Chen Guang: From a technical perspective, the exposed problems are a good thing. Suggest prioritizing the robustness of the follow algorithm.】

【Li Yang: Seconded. Need to clarify the master-slave relationship and behavioral boundaries.】

【Wang Hao: I even wanted to add voice recognition to it! I could just shout "Doggy, give the keys to Brother Li!" How direct!】

【Chen Guang: @Wang Hao Given its current logic processing capability and natural language understanding level (near zero)】

【You are more likely to get the result of "Doggy, use Brother Li as a key," or it will just run off to chew grass.】

【Li Yang:...】

【Feng Yan: @Chen Guang Insightful! @Wang Hao Give up that idea! Honestly go optimize your program logic and remote control commands with Old Li!】

【Feng Yan: Advanced voice recognition is something to consider only in the later stages!】

【Wang Hao: (Sent a meme of rolling on the floor crying) The road ahead is long and arduous...】

In the warehouse, under the lights, the four of them slurped their instant noodles.

While writing and drawing on draft paper and computers, discussing ideas for improving the collaborative algorithm.

The complaints and discussions in the WeChat group were also proceeding simultaneously.

These young people striving for their dreams and the "heavy weapons of the nation."

The noodle bowls gradually hit the bottom, while the flowcharts and formulas on the whiteboard became denser and denser.