Watch this (28 meg WMV file)
From New Scientist: Robotic ‘pack mule’ displays stunning reflexes
A nimble, four-legged robot is so surefooted it can recover its balance even after being given a hefty kick. The machine, which moves like a cross between a goat and a pantomime horse, is being developed as a robotic pack mule for the US military.
BigDog is described by its developers Boston Dynamics as “the most advanced quadruped robot on Earthâ€. The company have released a new video of the robot negotiating steep slopes, crossing rocky ground and dealing with the sharp kick.
…
Roboticist Darwin Caldwell, at the University of Salford, UK, adds: “It certainly looks very impressive – fast moving, highly reactive, autonomous both in power and possible intelligence and looking fairly robust. I have seen none that would be better. But there must always be a certain caution from videos.”
From the people that brought you the robot that climbs walls and other goodies.
It’s odd the front and back legs are set to work in opposition with the joints of the front legs articulating backwards if you were to analyze it based on how most quadrapeds like horses do work. I can’t wait until they work this problem out so they can build one that can reach higher speeds. It’ll be great 17 years from now hunting mutants for bounty in the alkali badlands on my robot horse with my pump shotgun laser.