Boston Dynamics Big Dog Tuesday, Mar 18 2008
The “galloping” at the end is particularly remarkable.
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March 18th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
I’m not sure why, but for me that thing is quite close to the bottom of the uncanny valley … at first glance, it looks like two soldiers bending forward with a giant two-person-backpack. Weird.
March 18th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
It’s amazing how it could keep its balance in all those different conditions. The part at the end was awesome.
March 18th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
That was very cool, thanks. I find it a little weird that I felt sympathy for it when it seemed to struggle or lose its balance. I mean, come on! it’s just some neural nets, feedback loops and motorized spring arms right? Right?
It would be pretty terrifying to have a pack of these come over a hill top at you though. Especially if they were armed in any fashion.
On the other hand, would also be awesome for carrying your picnic basket.
March 18th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
How many advantages does this prototype have over a pack mule? I can think of two or three off the top of my head. Anyone care to start a list?
March 18th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
1. harder to tip
2. heat tolerance
3. cold tolerance
4. greater stamina
5. faster
6. can carry more
7. can be armed
8. produces evil buzzing noise
9. exploits Uncanny Valley to intimidate enemy
10. cannot bleed
March 18th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
“I’m not sure why, but for me that thing is quite close to the bottom of the uncanny valley … at first glance, it looks like two soldiers bending forward with a giant two-person-backpack. Weird.”
That was my impression too! Right around 1:30 in the video, when you see it from the side, it hit me that it looks like two people pushing against each other.
Great video. Thanks Michael!
March 18th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
I wonder how much power it uses and what kind of autonomy it can have on current battery tech.
I suppose it could use a small diesel generator to extend the range, or maybe a hydrogen tank + fuel cell…
March 18th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
I feel sorry for it when it stumbles too, and when the guy kicks it.
March 18th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
My first thought was, “Well, that’s it, we’re all dead.”
More galloping robots here.
March 18th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
I also felt sorry for it when the guy kicked it.
March 18th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Mike, this was epic win. Seriously. I applaud you, sir.
I do feel it necessary to point out that, technically, you //can// arm mules as well…
March 20th, 2008 at 11:03 am
I defence of mules; mules are almost certainly capable of outpacing the robot, and they can be eaten.
March 20th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
[…] Totally awesome video of a big walking “dog” robot with some serious balance and recovery abilities; the Boston Dynamics “Big Dog”. […]
March 21st, 2008 at 10:30 am
1.harder to tip but if it falls can it get back up?
2.Environment tolerant? to a degree but it still needs to breath
3.it will run out of petro/batt and can only feed on man made fuels
4.4mph is not faster
5.greater payload but at greater resource cost
6.it’s got no arms but neither dose a mule:)
7.blood or hydro fluid, bleeding is bleeding.
March 21st, 2008 at 8:54 pm
I thought it was a real dog during the first 45 seconds or so of the video. Then I realized that it was a robot. This is quite impressive.
March 26th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
What kind of sick twisted person would kick a dog like that?
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:23 am
[…] with the uncanny valley, some military robots are quite creepy in my opinion. For example the Boston Dynamics “Big Dog”, which somehow looks like two soldiers bending over and pushing against each other. In a sense, it […]