This is AlphaDog, the next generation of BigDog, the creepiest and most awesome quadruped robot of all time. The damn thing is now smarter and can now stand up on its own when it’s down. Like a real horse.
Which is exactly what it looks and sounds like. A robotic, creepy version of a horse that can be kicked and pushed without falling down.
Like BigDog, AlphaDog is being developed by Boston Dynamics and funded by DARPA and the US Marine Corps. The first version will be completed in 2012 and will be capable of carrying 181kg over 32km missions in rough terrain. This video shows a test during the early stages of development.
And stay tuned for more cool robots from Boston Dynamic. According to Marc Raibert, founder and CEO of Boston Dynamics, there’s more exciting stuff to come “as soon as we get approvals for releasing it”.