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

While watching the vid, I had this odd impression of StarWars war machines (the 4-legged white ones that look kind of like "BigDog") and The Terminator (just to toss-in some paranoia) super-imposed on each other.

Then, when the video mentioned rescue scenarios, I pictured "BigDog" trodding through the snow with a keg of rum "rescuing" skiers in the Alps.

Simultaneously amazing, spooky, and funny as hell.

IF this is an autonomous robot, it's a stunning technical achievement.

Unbelievable - the performance on ice was just amazing!

Why do they have to made it look so scary, like some kind of mutant with no head.

Dr. Peaceful said:

Well, I suppose they could make it look like "Dance Around Pony" (she's the cute little sister of "Dance Slipper Pony") They could make a video of her dancing to the hit Ponyville song,

"Shake Your Cutie"
Artist: Pinkie-Pie
Producer: DARPA


http://www.hasbro.com/mylittlepony/default.cfm?page=Products/D...t_id=19041
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Little_Pony

Pretty useless IMO. A tracked robot could go over all that crap with much greater speed and payload. Legs are only really a good thing on living creatures because it is the most efficient system to produce locomotion. I don't get why they keep pursuing bi- and quadruped robots because it just isn't worth it.

Truth be told, I'd be long dead before that robot found me.

FordGT90Concept said:

You hit on the point exactly - efficiency. A tracked vehicle would likely be much heavier, require more fuel, and presumably need to come into civilization for refuel/re-equip more often.

Big Beavis said:
How do you figure? Tracked vehicles require fewer moving parts (two axles and rubber between them) and that ultimately means lighter and less fuel. It only gets complex when the load requires it (e.g. stabilization for the turret on a tank). Ever seen all these SWAT and military robots? They weigh about the same as that "BigDog" and can handle a lot more weight, they're fast, take a lot more abuse, are easily serviceable (unless a bomb blew up in its face), and most importantly, they're pretty cheap.

Each mobility technology is going to have its own niche.Tread vehicles aren't going away.

I think the main thing to look at in "BigDog", is that it's now apparently at the stage where the technology gets refined. This was a sophisticated piece of engineering, but it was still a very crude implementation...the result of an influx of cash and very recently increased mobile computing power.

"BigDog" will be very different in 5 years, whereas tread vehicles are a fairly mature technology. Think about the capabilities of "A.I.M.E.E." the little robotic dog-like critter in the movie, "Red Planet". It would be more than capable of successful Search and Rescue (and dis-embowling when put in "military ninja" mode because of a low-quality control switch)

One example: I imagine the current incredibly loud noise of "BigDog"s mobile power supply system will be virtually un-noticeable in 5 years.


edit to add-
ref to A.I.M.E.E. robot in movie "Red Planet"

Here are a few more animal-based robots.

http://discovermagazine.com/2008/aug/04-3-robots-that-move-jus...ke-animals
The bit on the fly is a bit over-dramatized and doesn't show much of the robot actually doing anything.

I liked the StickyBot best, although I'm probably biased as I have a pet Gecko.
http://bdml.stanford.edu/twiki/bin/view/Main/StickyBot

Best overall movie of StickyBot (note: this will likely immediately start a download if you don't have your security specifically setup to deny such activity)
http://bdml.stanford.edu/twiki/pub/Main/StickyBot/Stickybot_040106.mov

Wow that's amazing! When they guy attempted to kick the dog (robot) over,
it actually controlled itself from falling over. I p**sed my self laughing at the bit on
the ice. It was so life like, and how a dog would react in the situation.
They also managed to replicate the "dumbness" of a dog too hahah!!
Amazing!!!! Good vid! Good find!

And yea it's spookily freaky! I kinda don't like it! If i was in the woods on that
day and seen that, i woulda s**t myself!

Tracked vehicles while very versitile do not do well in rocky, mountainous regions, where as a "ped" type vehicle could do much better with the proper control and flexable response. I think this video shows great "strides" in the control and flexability areas.

Back to the "Terminator" scenario...
Give this little beastie a few years and many $$$ and you'll end up with a kevlar jacketted machine with quadriple the payload and at least twice the speed. So...picture 10 of these or one of thier six legged brethern fast walking across whatever terrain you want, each having a M134 or a derivitive of this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xe-QP8s1ZJc&feature=related mounted on the top of it with an independent turret with a marine thats cut his or her teeth in Crysis and/or FarCry 2 at the remote controls!!!!!

So the next time your Parents or Wife/Husband/Boy/Girl friend ask why you're wasting so much time playing video games, just tell them you are training to keep the world safe for Democracy, and show them these videos.

john albrich said:

The AT-ATs.

by the way when he kicked that thing and it stopped its self from falling it reminded me of those predator drones or w/e from Episode 2 of Half Life 2.