Boston Dynamics have released new, remarkable video footage of their robotic quadruped ‘pack mule’ in action showing just how far developed this DARPA funded robot’s sense of balance has developed – even to the extent that it can maintain its balance whilst climbing obstacles and when loosing its grip on black ice (as well as being kicked).
Powered by a less than stealthy gas engine, Boston Dynamics’ BigDog is being developed to serve as a test bed for a robotic ‘pack mule’ that will, some day, work to carry supplies to troops in the field whilst intelligently overcoming, or skirting around, any obstacles in its path and, in the video featured below, one should note that the BigDog not only has to carry its own weight but also a 340lb load.
For those that lack the patience to watch the entire clip, notable highlights include the BigDog maintaining its balance on ice at 1m 25secs, the BigDog making its way over breeze blocks at 2m 20secs and the robot jumping across a marked area at the end of the clip (during which it looks and moves so much like a living creature it’s actually quite disarming).
(click images to link)
