Dynomutt

[iainjclark]

Following on from the Battlefield Extraction Assist Robot (BEAR) (aka Johnny Five) the US military are developing yet another robot to do helpful things on the battlefield like run amok and kill everyone carry the soldiers' kit. It's called 'BigDog', presumably because 'K-9' was already taken.



This video is amazing. The way that it keeps its footing when it's pushed or when it slips is quite uncanny. It's also strangely creepy in the alive-but-not-alive signals it sends. The sinister buzzing noise is not helping.

Time for a poll, then.

[Poll #1158192]

Comments

[veggiesu.livejournal.com]

You missed the tickybox for "freaking me out".

[iainjclark.livejournal.com]

Maybe I was a bit restrained with "unnerving". :-)

It really is weird to watch, isn't it? Especially when it loses its balance.

[veggiesu.livejournal.com]

I was a bit retrained with "freaking me out" :-p

And yes, the way the legs move is uncanny - it alters from moving like people waling forwards to people moving backwards and back again... and as you say, when it loses its balance it reacts like Bambi.

*wibbles*

[ajp.livejournal.com]

Am I the only one that feels sorry for it, when the guy tries to kick it over?