'Imperial Walker' Type Robots for War - A Reality!

The Defence Advanced Research Project Administraion (DARPA) tasked Boston Dynamics with developing a robot that has the absolute ability to run, maneuver and jump to avoid obstacles.

Boston Dynamics have gone not one, but a dozen times better than they're original mandate with the creation of 'Big Dog' - which not only accomplishes all of the above, but is also able to successfully climb through the woods, is able to walk and climb through snow and even recover it's balance if it slips.  It can also gallop (I kid you not!) along at 3.3mph!

In the video you'll even see a man lift his foot to deliver a hefty kick to the side of the robot, only to see Big Dog easily recover - and never hit the ground.

The latter is accomplished with internal actuators and a laser gyroscope to keep the robot upright.  Just as impressive, is it's ability to climb a 35º slope.

DARPA handed over a US$10 million award to Boston Dynamics engineers last August, to create the camel-like robot, which measures only 1 meter tall and 2 meters wide.

According to Defence Dept., officials:



When you view the video, I wouldn't be surprised if the scenes from The Empire Strikes Back spring to mind - imagine a different version of the Imperial Walkers.

We really do live in a super-technological age and the science fiction of yesteryear is today, becoming our reality.

The DARPA contract was actually commissioned by the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center in San Diego and provides for three additional annual contract renewals - which will top out at US$40 million.

What does that tell you? Certainly the military will be using a more advanced form of Big Dog - the one you see in the video is only the first prototype.

I have it all worked out: ;)

- Design it 10 times the size;

- Add a surface-to-air missile on Big Dog's back;

- Plus a grenade launcher;

- Add a couple of 50 caliber machine guns on each side.

Big Dog could definitely (and frighteningly) be the ultimate fighting machine, which can be sent into battle either ahead of our human armies, or accompanying them as tote-robots.

Smaller ones could be used for carrying medical supplies and ammunition (it can already carry up to 340lbs of gear) and whatever else soldiers have to tote in battle.  I'm thinking it would be useful in jungle warfare also.

But then I'd be fooling myself to think that the Dept., of Defence hasn't already thought of these benefits and is planning it's implementation some time in the future.

Watching the video is eerie, creepy and left me with an unsettled sense of foreboding. The robot's movements are so real(!) and they also remind me of an arachnid - though it does only have four legs. The back and front 'knees' have been designed to face one another, making it quite odd looking.

One thing that would need to change, if our army plans to use it in stealth situations, is the dreadful sounding 2-stroke engine, (heard in the video,)  which I'm sure is only being used in the planning stages, to ensure that all the components work well.

So tell me, do you believe this is a great invention for the U.S., or might it herald in an even newer age of war, destruction and loss of many more lives?

Sources:

YouTube

TG Daily
'Big Dog' Robot Walks on Snow, Rubble and Ice
by Humphrey Cheung

MHT - Mass High Tech Stories
Boston Dynamics Shows Off Lifelike Robot Dog