New Video of BigDog Quadruped Robot Is So Stunning It's SpookyNew Video of BigDog Quadruped Robot Is So Stunning It's Spooky
Boston Dynamics keeps working on their BigDog quadruped robot, which will probably grow to be the future AT-AT of the Pentagon. Its evolution since the last time we saw it is nothing sort of mindblowing, and a bit spooky.
It looks like an actual biological quadruped. Seeing it climb through rubble, snow, jumping over obstacles like a wild goat, and saving a near-fall on iced ground at the last second (fast forward to the middle of the video) defies belief. It feels so "animal" that I almost feel bad when they hit it to demonstrate how it regains balance on its own.
The new version of the robot can now carry 340 pounds, which is almost triple the previous weight. It looks to me that that $10 million funding they got from Darpa has been put to good use. [IEEE]
Posted Mar 18, 2008
J-Dog
Responses to this thread:
jessica:
The movement is much more impressive than the sound it makes. I wonder how many prototypes they went through.
Shimon:
J-Dog:
I felt bad when the dude kicked it too, then I laughed so hard when it was slipping on the ice. And, the thing does not even have a head. So I don't know if it is coming or going?
notgneiss:
Holy St. Bernard, Batman. I felt a twinge when he kicked it, too. And I couldn't help imagining a hepped up few dozen of these doggies swarming down a street in Karbala following remotely sensed small arms fire, explosives scents, or some poor dude who you just want to scare into jelly.
