[Schadenfreude]

Boston Dynamics Big Dog

[align=center][flash width=425 height=350]http://www.youtube.com/v/W1czBcnX1Ww&eurl=http://www.michelleoshen.com/[/flash][/align]

Don't worry about the loud two-stroke engine noise; it can't hear a thing...yet.

Utterly amazing. Especially how it picks itself up after slipping and falling on the ice.

It's strange how the two sets of legs resemble the moving bodies of people, (are they banished souls consigned to hell?) facing one another and brainlessly carrying their accursed and noisesome load.

...So technically ingenious yet so spiritually ill! Two thumbs up!

[What2DO]

I saw this the otherday, its very impressive. There are a few other videos of this, one it jumps over a outline on the ground.
Also it is carrying over 300 pounds of wieghts.

[What2DO]

You might look at BD's little dog to very cool.

[Ferretlover]

Makes me think of a house fly... eeewww...

[threadbear]

could this technology make wheelchairs obsolete, and return the disabled to walking status?

[mos6507]

At one time I thought we'd never get a robot to be able to walk on two legs like a person, but it happened. And this, which I saw a long time ago, is truly amazing.

[FourOfSwords]

Crap, if I saw this thing walking through my woods, I think I'd shit my pants! :D
Alex

[The_Toecutter]

I wish I knew how to build something like that...


I'd love nothing more than to make a real-life robotic replica of the Atma WEAPON off of Final Fantasy VI.

[eastbay]

It could replace bloodhounds searching for jail escapee's.

Give it a weapon. Show it his or her picture. Then say 'sic em'!! This thing would search relentlessly until it bumped into its target. Then plink!

[Magus]

[Windmills]

How does this compare to a mule? Have their been side-by-side tests between a mule and this contraption, like on a closed course of some kind? My first impression is that it's reinventing the wheel in an expensive way.

[AgentR]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Windmills', 'H')ow does this compare to a mule? Have their been side-by-side tests between a mule and this contraption, like on a closed course of some kind? My first impression is that it's reinventing the wheel in an expensive way.

[Plantagenet]

Human fighters could still defeat the robots.......if they are trained correctly.

[3aidlillahi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('threadbear', 'c')ould this technology make wheelchairs obsolete, and return the disabled to walking status?

[Windmills]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('AgentR', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Windmills', 'H')ow does this compare to a mule? Have their been side-by-side tests between a mule and this contraption, like on a closed course of some kind? My first impression is that it's reinventing the wheel in an expensive way.

[AgentR]

I highly doubt that the device is intended to be limited to the purpose of carrying field rations and ammo. Its just that static loads remove complications from the development process.

"Soldier! Sitrep on the Remote Sniper."

"Sir! Twelve miles in, IR signature neutral, target acquired and ready."

"Soldier! Take the shot"

"Sir! Yes Sir! clicky clicky"

[Carlhole]

Video: Boston Dynamics' Petman Is the Creepy Bipedal Evolution of Big Dog

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')he latest innovation to come out of the Boston Dynamics labs is the Petman--a two-legged, upright robot that simulates the walking motion of human beings. And like its quadruped cousin the BigDog, this thing is equally creepy/hilarious (check out the shoes).

Used (at the moment) to test chemical warfare clothing for the US Army, the Petman is able to move at 3.2 mph, recreating the natural heel-toe stride that we employ in our walking motion.
In addition to walking, the Petman can crawl and perform various calisthenics, perspiring all the while from its artificial sweat glands. Boston Dynamics has few other details, except that it took 13 months to design and 17 months to build. But the video pretty much spooks--er--speaks for itself, so you're better off throwing that on repeat.