Boston Dynamics BigDog: The Most Advanced Quadruped Robot on Earth - FANTASTIC VIDEO, AMAZING TECHNOLOGY

If This Video Doesn't Make You Scream "WOW!," You Must Be Dead.

AUTO CENTRAL - August 19, 2008: Here's the perfect story for the Dog Days of Summer, it's about Boston Dynamics' robotic quadruped named "BigDog." Although it's called BigDog, what it really makes you thnk of are the Imperial Walkers from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.

And perhaps, in much the same way that the creations of Jules Verne, H.G. Wells and Gene Roddenberry sired the development of actual working technology and devices, maybe George Lucas' giant robotic military platforms were the inspiration for Marc Raibert and his colleagues at Boston Dynamics. But whether Lucas' Imperial Walkers were the inspiration or not, all the credit for turning the fantastic into reality must go to Boston Dynamics.

But enough words. Go watch the video, then come back for more information, then watch the video again.

About BigDog
BigDog is the alpha male of the Boston Dynamics family of robots. It is a quadruped robot that walks, runs, and climbs on rough terrain and carries heavy loads. BigDog is powered by a gasoline engine that drives a hydraulic actuation system. BigDog's legs are articulated like an animal’s, and have compliant elements that absorb shock and recycle energy from one step to the next. BigDog is the size of a large dog or small mule, measuring 1 meter long, 0.7 meters tall and 75 kg weight.

BigDog has an on-board computer that controls locomotion, servos the legs and handles a wide variety of sensors. BigDog’s control system manages the dynamics of its behavior to keep it balanced, steer, navigate, and regulate energetics as conditions vary. Sensors for locomotion include joint position, joint force, ground contact, ground load, a laser gyroscope, and a stereo vision system. Other sensors focus on the internal state of BigDog, monitoring the hydraulic pressure, oil temperature, engine temperature, rpm, battery charge and others.

In separate trials, BigDog runs at 4 mph, climbs slopes up to 35 degrees, walks across rubble, and carries a 340 lb load.

BigDog is being developed by Boston Dynamics with the goal of creating robots that have rough-terrain mobility that can take them anywhere on Earth that people and animals can go. The program is funded by the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA).

For more information about Boston Dynamics and to see more of their incredible achievements visit www.bostondynamics.com.

Now was that a WOW!, or not?