Just found some video of the latest version of a quadruped robot designed by U.S. robotics company, Boston Dynamics. The “BigDog” is designed to be used as a pack mule, carrying loads over rough terrain. The really impressive thing is the way this machine actually moves. It walks like an animal, (or as some would say, a four legged tarantula). Slopes, icy snow covered terrain, piles of bricks, no problem. Kick it in the guts and it stumbles, regains it’s balance and keeps on going.
Of course it cost in the region of ten million dollars to develop so it probably won’t be available off the shelf for a while, but I still want one. Have a look at the video, if you have time, also check the videos of the RHEX and LittleDog versions as well from the same company. Rhex can go almost anywhere, even underwater.
LittleDog is just cute. Even though it may have been designed for military use, I can really see a market for this one.
Anyway, here’s the video, enjoy
Watch RHEX go!
And here’s “LittleDog”
