Communication Breakdown
Communications from the world of, er, communications. And other stuff.
Wednesday 19 March 2008, 9:32 AM
One of the scariest things I've seen
Not much to say here - just watch this DARPA-funded robot pack-dog in action (particularly the near-slippage in the middle of the video) and think forward a couple decades. We're doomed, I tells ya...
PreviousComments on this post
It is a bit creepy--like a mutant spider. But if the Daleks taught me anything, it's don't fear a robot that can't walk upstairs.
This is guaranteed to cause sleepless nights for dog lovers everywhere.
Where do they put the Pedigree Chum in?
Incredible! I want to take one to the park (and I'm also, as you say, scared!).
I had two different reactions. First, creepy/scary, like most everyone else. Second, why isn't there a saddle on it?
I dunno - seeing as it has no head, would you know which way to face?
I hope that since my tax dollars are paying for Big Dog and his successors, I hope they can make him work with a much shorter leg. He's not very "steallhy" yet, way too tall. Also I wonder what kind of anti-personnel weapon armor it has on it. Carrying all that payload doesn't mean anything if he gets it there all shot-up.
They also need to teach him to walk, canter and run like a horse. A lot more efficient when the roadway is open and flat, a la places with lots of sand and asphalt roads. (A long time ago I used to ride in hunter and jumper competitions. ) It would be a lot smoother and easier on the equipment being carried and the hardware doing all the motive work.
They need to talk to the guys at Carneige Mellon (I think it was) that just won the DARPA Urban Challenge for completely "hands-off" robotic automotive driving.
Though I've seen it before, it's still nonetheless amazing to note just how far robotics has come. BigDog looks more like a test for 'off-world' exploration (think next moon landing or mission to mars). If not, then perhaps they'll put it to use to locate the elusive Bin Laden in the hills of the Afghan border. Beyond that, pack it with explosives and just remotely navigate it up to a point and kaboom! Use it as a transporter to carry a man across a remote landscape or a retriever for fatigued army personnel.
Wherever the ultimate purpose for BigDog lies, it will be well worth keeping tabs on it's development. Personally, I'd like one to carry all my stuff during my next cross-country trek. The scary part is the future advertisement selling the dream of a 'boy and his dog'! They could market it as the first dog you could 'legally' kick!
Very Bladerunnerish, wouldn't you agree?
TFD
Banish your fears with this video!
Brilliance.
I think its even scarier seeing that lol. I took a look at the Boston Dynamics website and the RiSe scares me if it were faster it would really scare me.
