Video: Army’s Robot-Man Walks Like the Real Thing

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/10/video-armys-robot-man-walks-like-the-real-thing/

by brandnewly • 17 years ago

34 18 17 years ago

geuis• 17 years ago

I remember the very early prototypes of what became Asimo. The difference between then and the ones that were released a couple years ago was quite startling. Seeing this video specifically reminds me of the same thing. I'm envisioning how this technology will look in 5 years. I think we're a hell of a lot closer to life-like android/robots than we are away.

_bfhp• 17 years ago

I wonder how long it'll take them to rig it to fire an machine gun...

the recoil will sure be a problem, but hey, it's stable when pushed.

anigbrowl• 17 years ago

Indeed it does, and very impressive it is too. I cannot help wondering, though, why it is wearing shoes...unless they want to conceal some ever-so-clever technology.

mahmud• 17 years ago

Is not so much concealment as protection of expensive equipment, the carpet, and should this thing decide to do the 100 meter dash all on its own, protection of human hurdles that might otherwise get steel toes lodged in their abdomens.

blackguardx2• 17 years ago

They are rock climbing shoes. I think they must have been having problems with traction on the treadmill. The rubber in rock climbing shoes is very sticky and gives the shoe great grip on most surfaces.

joeycfan3• 17 years ago

I'm a little worried about this - once the USA gets disposable robot soldiers there's nothing to stop them waging war in all directions simultaneously...

Spend $ not American lives - prefect for the MIC.

Flankk• 17 years ago

The US Army has been using autonomous robotic soldiers for years now, they just aren't humanoid.

jws• 17 years ago

May you find what you are looking for – ultimate of three escalating curses. [1]

http://xkcd.com/652/

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_you_live_in_interesting_tim...

sown• 17 years ago

It is not as if there is something magically american about these robots. Other nations can and do build their own military robots. Also, they are not cheap. They, as of now, require personnel to operate. I wouldn't worry about an army of autonomous robot soldiers. Save that for the movies.

joeycfan3• 17 years ago

Yes but I remember when computers weighed 16 tons.. today people stick a better one than that in their ear....

KiwiNige• 17 years ago

I thought it would make more sense to copy the leg design from other bi-peds such as chickens, which are similar to a dogs back legs with the ankle acting more like our knee.

I'd been led to believe that our legs worked the way the do due to evolving to climb trees, then evolving back to walk on the ground leaving them less than optimal.

blackguardx2• 17 years ago

They are careful to point out that it walks heel-to-toe like a human. Why did they design the robot to do this? Humans only walk heel-to-toe when they wear shoes. Does a heel-to-toe walking pattern give the robot any particular advantages? Did they just design it in to make the robot appear to have a more human gait? I find this very interesting.

Also, I noticed that the robot is wearing rock climbing shoes - the 5.10 coyote to be exact. I am guessing that this is for better traction on the tread mill. Rock climbing shoes have very thin soles with no cushioning whatsoever. No human would be able to walk with a heel-to-toe gait wearing those shoes on a hard surface without considerable heel pain after a few strides.

pmichaud• 17 years ago

It explains it in the article -- the robot is designed to simulate the motion of real, human soldiers in order to test protective, anti-chemical gear for the military (both walking and crawling apparently). It'll also be able to regulate temperature and sweating.

furyg3• 17 years ago

I must say their earlier robot, big dog, walked suspiciously like a human as well.

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

;)

joeycfan3• 17 years ago

a human with a servere case of the farts...

erikstarck• 17 years ago

Fascinating. Now take a look at this video of sprinter Oscar Pictorious: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ON4B-fNCvSg and add the two technologies.

Cyborgs, here we come.

speek• 17 years ago

As much as I love BostonDynamics, I'm pretty pissed off at them since they won't return my emails about speaking at a local university.

_ck_• 17 years ago

You know what I worry about, war becoming too "easy".

Drones, robots, etc. with little or no human toll to pay.

Video: Army’s Robot-Man Walks Like the Real Thing

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