BigDog, The Scariest Robot on Earth
August 13, 2008 // Science + Technology

My roommate Garrett just forwarded me this link and OMG is this some intense robot action! The video above features a robot called BigDog, which is a quadruped robot that has legs which are articulated like an animal’s, sort of like a big, robotic deer. The thing is a technologic masterpiece, featuring advanced control systems that allow it to navigate, balance, sense things like joint position and force, and even monitors internal states like teperature, rpm, and battery charge. This thing is the real deal.

I think this thing is damn creepy, in all honesty. Like the fact that it uses a diesel engine means it makes that intense buzzing sound, which if I were out in the woods alone and I heard that, I’d shit myself. It’s also pretty creepy because there’s nothing it can’t do. I mean, the dude in the video KICKS IT AND IT DOESN’T FALL! As we were watching the video my roommate suggested that he would kick it… obviously that isn’t an option. I’m also pretty sure when they say that it runs on “diesel” they mean “human innards.”

If you’d like some more info check out the Boston Dynamics website, it’s pretty rad and they have a few more robots to check out as well.

Bobby

  1. wtf! that thing is sick!

    Comment by leggoz — August 14, 2008 #

  2. the parody is pretty good… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXJZVZFRFJc

    Comment by Damien — August 14, 2008 #

  3. that robot terrifies me…

    Comment by lucky — August 14, 2008 #

  4. fun fact:

    a friend of mine came up with the technical illustrations for the big dog! James Provost: http://www.jamesprovost.com/illustration/bigdog.php

    also:

    i’m waiting till they make the machine gun turret variant

    Comment by rey — August 14, 2008 #

  5. I like the end of it… where it says “funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency” Go Army. eeeesh. Nonetheless, this thing is an amazing piece of work.

    Comment by Jason — August 15, 2008 #

  6. Our blasters are too strong for their armor. Try using your harpoons and tow cables!

    Comment by Zeek — August 15, 2008 #

  7. Zeek: EXACTLY.

    Comment by Bobby — August 15, 2008 #

  8. Anyone play Half-Life 2? Reminds me of the terrifying robots from that…not a good thing.

    Comment by Jacob — August 15, 2008 #

  9. it took you THIS long to see that?!?!

    Comment by Lorena — August 16, 2008 #

  10. I wonder if they’ve come up with any upgrades to the software/hardware since this version was created quite a long time ago. ‘Tis still awesome though.

    Comment by Yreka — August 18, 2008 #

  11. Actually the movie this really reminds me of (and scares me hella more) is T2. When that Dog-thing slips on the ice and keeps coming, it’s as ominous as the 2nd terminator getting a point-blank head shot and still closing in for the kill.

    Comment by Zeek — August 18, 2008 #

  12. It also reminds me of the cow sounding robots from MGS4… this is like the baby brother.

    Comment by Bobby — August 18, 2008 #