Tuesday, March 24, 2009

BigDog Robot Being Used in Afghanistan



I love this kind of stuff! Here's a 4-legged robot that looks like a headless canine and uses a gasoline engine that whines like a pack of killer bees - CREEPY!

Here's more from the article:

"Its robot brain, a sophisticated computer, controls locomotion sensors that adapt rapidly to the environment. The entire control system regulates, steers and navigates ground contact. A laser gyroscope keeps BigDog on his metal paws — even when the robot slips, stumbles or is kicked over."

Read more here.

On a related side note: I took the fam to see Knowing this weekend and saw previews for the new Terminator movie . . .

5 comments:

Kristin said...

That is scary beyond all reason. I'm watching in absolute horror as that thing looks like a number of different quadripeds. Then, as I love the Terminator series, I'm picturing the thing charging the cameraman.
Yeah, I'm shuddering. Thanks SO much, Kip!

K. Keith said...

You're welcome, Kristin - suddenly James Cameron's Terminator vision doesn't look all that fantastic!

How about the way it corrected itself on the ice? That was the most amazing thing to me . . .

Kristin said...

And by amazing you mean absolutely terrifying, right?

Anonymous said...

I've never seen something with 4 legs look so much like something with 8 legs. That aside, I want one. I want these things to be my friend before someone comes along and dooms us all by discovering a perpetual energy source.

K. Keith said...

I'm with Adam - I want one of these things! I want to use it to mow my yard and pester my cat.