Thread: New Video of BigDog Quadruped Robot Is So Stunning It's Spoo

New Video of BigDog Quadruped Robot Is So Stunning It's Spooky



http://gizmodo.com/368651/new-video-of- ... its-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]

http://gizmodo.com/368651/new-video-of- ... its-spooky

Comments

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Image of SigmundTheSeaMonster by SigmundTheSeaMonster at 11:00 AM on 03/17/08
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Wow.

Now, so now Darpa is funding the homeless to carry their recycling bags?
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No commenter image uploaded by MickeyMoo at 11:01 AM on 03/17/08
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almost louder than a Pleo
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Image of sandmanfvr by sandmanfvr at 11:01 AM on 03/17/08
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WOW!!! That is so incredible. A robot that can actually walk and catch itself. Hell, it did better than most humans would have done on that ice. It is spooky. They get this thing faster, these could be robotic guard dogs that roam a perimeter of a place, to keep watch. Put some grips on the "feet" and they may never slip and make them faster and have say stun guns, that would be scary.
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Image of Stang70Fastback by Stang70Fastback at 11:01 AM on 03/17/08
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That thing scares the hell out of me every time I see a video of it.
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Image of charliedigital by charliedigital at 11:02 AM on 03/17/08
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The self recovery after it loses balance is pretty impressive.
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Image of aphex by aphex at 11:03 AM on 03/17/08
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Was I the only one laughing my ass off watching that thing slip on the ice?
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Image of SirDrinksalot by SirDrinksalot at 11:06 AM on 03/17/08
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This looks like something out of Half-Life... What's next? Head crabs?
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Image of Curves by Curves at 11:06 AM on 03/17/08
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If this is for military purpose, it would work by scaring the HELL out of me in the woods. AmaZing robotics, terrifying sound and appearance.
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No commenter image uploaded by T16skyhopp at 11:08 AM on 03/17/08
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im pretty sure those killed me in half life
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Image of permissionmag by permissionmag at 11:08 AM on 03/17/08
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Truly is spooky. When it slipped on the ice, I actually caught myself thinking "poor thing, I hope it's ok" before I remembered it was a machine, and not an animal.
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No commenter image uploaded by James at 11:10 AM on 03/17/08
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All we need now is a power source that isn't so loud and lasts. When we break this barrier, everything is going to change. Once combustion engines are gone, once batteries are lighter and can last weeks not hours or minutes, then you will need to be afraid.
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No commenter image uploaded by steven5737 at 11:11 AM on 03/17/08

continue reading comments › » [1..100 of 140]

http://gizmodo.com/368651/new-video-of- ... its-spooky

Wow, thanks for posting this video, I enjoyed it.

Two things. one, this should go in other topics.

second, the post with the comments is way to long a post for anyone to read.
W

second, the post with the comments is way to long a post for anyone to read.
W

That was stunning!

No offense, W, but the comments post is what actually got me to look at the video. I'm glad I did, it was amazing and made me wish I had one.

More Creepy Robotics from DARPA



DARPA's Pet-Proto Robot Navigates Obstacles - YouTube

Heavens to Murgatroyd