Big Dog

This has to be one of the coolest things Fubar Vault has seen in a long while. This ‘Big Dog’ is the brain child of Boston Dynamics, an advanced robot builder from Massachusetts. They work with such organisations as DARPA, the US Army, Navy and Marine Corps and the Sony Corporation developing ‘advanced robots with remarkable behaviour: mobility, agility, dexterity and speed.’

The Big Dog is one of their flagship projects and is funded by the Tactical Technology Office at DARPA. The Big Dog is a robot designed for rough terrain and has the ability to walk, run and carry heavy loads. The Big Dog has four legs that are modelled on an animal to absorb shock and redistribute energy to different legs the same way a dog would do. It is around three foot long and weighs just over 100KG.



What makes the Big Dog unique is the way it responds to the environment it encounters. Any slip or trip is compensated for by the other legs reacting to regain balance just as an animal would do. This is achieved through the Big Dog’s on-board computer system. The system controls the locomotion, servos, movement of the legs and a range of sensors. As a result, the Big Dog is able to maintain balance and navigate its course even when the environment consists of very difficult terrain.



Boston Dynamics tests show that the Big Dog can run at 4 mph, climb slopes up to 35 degrees, walk across rubble, climb a muddy hiking trail, walk in snow and water all while carrying a 154KG load.