I’m always impressed by Boston Dynamics’ robots. This is the most recent video of Big Dog it came out a couple days ago. There was another video a few months ago that also showed it recovering from a kick, but this kick was definitely a harder hit and the ice stuff was very impressive.
If I remember correctly the system uses experimentation to adjust and determine the best way handle a situation, in other words it’s a true learning robot.
I did some work on learning neural nets back in college, but we never tried anything quite to this level.
err I should qualify that the neural nets weren’t “real time learning neural nets” they were “real time evolving neural nets” so they were better for training an ant army than for controlling joint systems on a robot.
Just might see one of these operating on the surface of Mars one day, who knows. It could certainly handle the rough terrain better than a wheeled vehicle.
The buzz of the…gasoline engine, i’m guessing–was the creepiest for me, because it gave the general impression I was looking at a giant four legged house fly.
The movements are astonishingly lifelike.
But a few well placed .50 cal rounds would shut it down, I imagine, or a few well placed 12 ga slugs at close range.
Its says the thing has a 340lb payload capacity, anyone think it could handle the recoil of an M2 or a MK19. I don’t mean like some kind of walking death bot (keep it off of skynet JayF), but rather as a modile crew served weapons platform. Have one follow around a squad on patrol, but I’d quiet the thing up first.
March 19th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Very impressive on the ice. The gyroscope and computer are very sophisticated.
March 19th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Now if they can only get that “SkyNet” defense system up and running, there might be some synergy here.
March 19th, 2008 at 10:28 am
“The Mule”? That thing’s been around for years. Very creepy, but very neat!
March 19th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
I’m always impressed by Boston Dynamics’ robots. This is the most recent video of Big Dog it came out a couple days ago. There was another video a few months ago that also showed it recovering from a kick, but this kick was definitely a harder hit and the ice stuff was very impressive.
If I remember correctly the system uses experimentation to adjust and determine the best way handle a situation, in other words it’s a true learning robot.
I did some work on learning neural nets back in college, but we never tried anything quite to this level.
March 19th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
err I should qualify that the neural nets weren’t “real time learning neural nets” they were “real time evolving neural nets” so they were better for training an ant army than for controlling joint systems on a robot.
March 19th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
‘The Mule’?…They should have called it ‘The Remote Goat’
Pretty damn impressive either way!
March 19th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Just might see one of these operating on the surface of Mars one day, who knows. It could certainly handle the rough terrain better than a wheeled vehicle.
The buzz of the…gasoline engine, i’m guessing–was the creepiest for me, because it gave the general impression I was looking at a giant four legged house fly.
The movements are astonishingly lifelike.
But a few well placed .50 cal rounds would shut it down, I imagine, or a few well placed 12 ga slugs at close range.
March 19th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Yeah, that thing is definitely creepy. But very, very cool at the same time. It’s amazing how it’s able to adapt its movement and keep its balance.
March 19th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Its says the thing has a 340lb payload capacity, anyone think it could handle the recoil of an M2 or a MK19. I don’t mean like some kind of walking death bot (keep it off of skynet JayF), but rather as a modile crew served weapons platform. Have one follow around a squad on patrol, but I’d quiet the thing up first.