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 US$10 million funding they got from Darpa has been put to good use. [IEEE]
Dean
Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at 1:23 PMNow that is impressive.
Love it when the guy kicks it near the start. I’m sure it’ll remember that, as soon as we give BigDog weapons, that guy is gone…
Andre
Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at 8:32 PMThat’s so scary – I think I’m going to have nightmares. Can’t help but think of it pursuing me through bushlands or mountains – that noise behind you the whole time. Relentless. Never tiring. Never sleeping.
Although I guess is would run out of power after a bit. But what if it had solar panels or something?! I don’t like it one bit.
George
Thursday, March 20, 2008 at 9:26 PMAnyone else think John Connor may have been onto something? Both impressive and distressing; I will have to pour another chardonnay.
Kjafgf
Friday, March 28, 2008 at 5:11 PMthe legs remind of the half life 2 episode 2 hunter synth
Jeremy Baker
Saturday, September 26, 2009 at 8:00 PMgive it some eyes so it can tell what it is walking on