Video: Army’s new robotic mule keeps its balance on ice
 

It’s totally freaky when it slips on the ice, or that guy gives it a swift kick in the side.


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Article here:

http://www.popsci.com/military-aviation-space/article/2008-03/darpas-amazing-robot-pack-mule-keeps-its-balance-ice

cool, in an eerie sort of way!

JP

That is stunning!

Makes you wonder how far off a Terminator is?

AT-AT walkers anyone?

Freaky.

That's pretty neat. I wonder how much it cost.

WOW! that thing is amazing!

Looks like two guys in a animal suit facing each other at times.

I've seen the request for this on-line for at least six years now as part of the sbir-sttr program.

Freaky, freaky, freaky.

Anyone run a Snopes on it yet?

Company looks real.

http://www.bostondynamics.com/index.php

Yeah no one's going to hear that coming. I think after marching behind it for a few hours I'd stick a grenade in it's a$$ :D

I wonder why they put the legs like that kind of horse like in the front and human like in the rear?

Cool

stealthn, that's what I was thinking... Seems like with the gene splicing we're doing now-days it would have been cheaper to just cross a human with a jacka$$...

Some might say that's been done (many in Congress could be the evidence of this..) but none of them have 4 legs...

6 legs is the way to go - think about it -- you always have a nice stable tripod when moving other legs -- with 4 legs you need a LOT better control systems -- works for mammals and reptiles but we are struggling to emulate cockroaches with our robots right now...

ONR has been funding that approach with a colleague at Berkeley for the last few years

That's been done, you can find examples in the management of most corporations or in politics....

Dennis

Cool jump!

Thats pretty cool.

I wonder if it comes with a Frickin laser attached to its head?

I also think it looks like two guys facing each other.

Ok, the sound, I am guessing a generator, is seriously creepy.

Brundel Fly anyone? That's what it reminds me of.

That video was awesome!
Have to say though when it was on the ice, it reminded me of getting into the taxi on St Patrick’s day/night.

Beautiful! That is some very complex sw-programming besides the very cool hw.

Add 20 more years of development, add some intelligence when we approach the singularity and that dog will kick back big time:eek:

I think you’ve nailed it. I think the human like qualities of this machine are what make the video so “freaky.”

The web site says it’s powered by a gas engine. I’m guessing it’s something like a leaf blower engine. Modified and improved of course, but in general, some sort of high revving two stroke gas motor.

Yes, motor powers the hydraulic pump that runs it.

Rotflmao

I see no evidence of intelligent design there, just a bunch of parts from a parts bin that spilled out and happened to end up as Big Dog

It's been done already and much more elegantly IMHO

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1206567160.jpg

The spoof was good for a real laugh; kinda like Monty Python.:D

The technology is impressive! But you are not going to sneak up on anything with that. Horses still work great and much more quiet. You do have to put good shoes on them for the ice work. Still pretty cool though.

My bad.


The technology IS impressive, no doubt. I guess I started out by poking a stick at evolution (evolutionists). I should know better...Sorry if I offended anyone.SmileWavy