well, it's like a big dog

BigDog is not your standard woof woof (minus head). It is a rough-terrain robot, capable of walking, running, bounding, climbing, carrying heavy loads and is fully house-trained. Okay, I made the last one up but I fully assume it is. Built and tamed by Boston Dynamics, it is about three feet long, two and a half feet tall and controlled by lots of computer gizmos and sensors and stuff – for those of you lacking imagination, that’s like a German Shephard with four Xbox and a Wii stuck to it.

BigDog gets about the place using a Leopard go-kart engine, various hydraulics, valves, actuators, servos, joints and springs, which all combine to get it to a speed of 4mph (to date). They also allow it to climb up 35 degree slopes, navigate over rubble, go on muddy hikes, bound around in snow and splash about it water. Amazingly, BigDog has managed to walk 12.8 miles without stopping or refueling, which is pretty sweet. BigDog can also carry a 150kg load – that’s two people, fifteen machine guns or about 1300 hamsters.

Check it out for yourself in the following videos and prepare to laugh as BigDog meets some ice. Oh and when that guy boots BigDog in the side, incredible robot.

And finally, even robots have to take some time out. I love you BigDog!

BigDog

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