Biped Robot Achieves 4.4 mph (video)

[pokerfan]

BostonDynamics — April 22, 2010 — Biped robot that balances dynamically using a human-like walking motion. It is a close relative to BigDog, sharing elements of the mechanical design and control.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ja_UsmXVPVk

We live in the science fiction of our youth. (Robert Charles Wilson)

[BlueJazz]

1. Wonder what the weight is. If (or when) they get it down to a smaller size a..

..lot of bed/wheelchair people could "walk the walk" Cool.. :)

[opihimoimoi]

2. Unless we Humans fuck it all up....we may get to see 8 legged Octopeds...reach 87.9 MPH w weapons

Remotely run soldiers with various weaponry....the Future is upon us....

Now if we could only address Poverty instead....there would be no Blue Tent Cities....

[Warpy]

3. The military has been exploring exoskeleton type arrangements

that would increase limb strength in deployed troops and allow them to carry more supplies as they advanced.

That's the kind of research that would benefit soldiers with spinal cord injuries immensely, get them up and mobile, preventing loss of bone if not muscle mass.

I'm all for beating swords into plowshares and this looks like a great place to start.

[leveymg]

4. Astonishing and scary. The BigDog walker moves like it's alive.

Too bad they'll end up as weapons of war before we can figure out anything more useful for them.