Boston Dynamics unwraps military robot AlphaDog

Take a look at the latest development in robotic hardware. This quadrupedal machine has been built for military use (as a kind of pack mule to follow front line troops). But you can imagine it has lots of other applications, from weapons platform to riot control and security guards Watch the video right to the end and you can see how well balanced the robot is when they try to kick it over. It reminds me of a metal gear 'if you ever played the games' fascinating technology, and a little creepy.

(PhysOrg.com) -- Boston Dynamics has taken the wraps off its newest prototype combat escort, AlphaDog, which was developed with funding from DARPA and the US Marine Corps. Waltham, Massachusetts-based Boston Dynamics last week revealed the video that shows AlphaDog's capabilities for troop support. Those who have seen the video are calling the quadruped robot such names as Mule Poodle, Monster Mutt and BigDog-on-Steroids, but AlphaDog is its name. The robot is described further as the prototype for the formally named LS3. The latter stands for Legged Squad Support System.

Full story here:www.physorg.com...

i saw this thing on cracked a few months ago

Looks like BD has made some serious improvements over the original Dog in regards to speed of the running gate and the ability to right itself. Quite impressive actually. If this is the Alpha, Im almost scared to see the Beta when it comes out. I read a thread on here a while back about how DARPA has requested BD to build a hunter killer type robot modeled after a cheetah.

This is in no way breaking news, especially not at ATS.

This same video was released about a year ago at the very least and was discussed and somewhat fear mongered a bit back then.


Oh, look... 2008....

www.abovetopsecret.com...

(it's not the actual video, but the video you posted was in/of that same time period)

reply to post by AllSeeingLie
If you took the time to read the linked article, you would see this is a new video of the upgraded/latest version of the Alphadog.

reply to post by Atzil321



just search "boston robot" and look at the numerous results. Are you wasting our time or just trying to be heard?

reply to post by AllSeeingLie



Relax. This is an updated version of the original Dog,

reply to post by AllSeeingLie


Okay, maybe I just had higher expectations after reading the title of your post and then only finding the same old rehashed stuff from 2008. And I claim to have seen this "updated video" at least a year ago.

Other than that, I'm not attempting to derail anything here... Carry on

Not long until we get robots like this.....(sorry it's French version, couldn't find the English one).....

It'd be interesting to see this robot applied to rescue missions, imagine someone trapped high in the himalayas (or something) in the middle of a hailstorm... Like a mechanic San Bernardo... And it could even carry a couple people to safety if they keep improving their physical capabilities...
Thanks for the update!

Originally posted by drakus
It'd be interesting to see this robot applied to rescue missions, imagine someone trapped high in the himalayas (or something) in the middle of a hailstorm... Like a mechanic San Bernardo... And it could even carry a couple people to safety if they keep improving their physical capabilities...
Thanks for the update!

That would be pretty cool. Especially if they included those minature burbon barrels around its "neck"

reply to post by Atzil321


I heard about this last year, but that's not why I'm posting.

I'm posting because it looks a lot more refined than before, it looks like it's pretty much done.

Originally posted by MrGrimm
reply to post by Atzil321

 

I heard about this last year, but that's not why I'm posting.

I'm posting because it looks a lot more refined than before, it looks like it's pretty much done.

It looks like they are still working on full weight support and balance algorithms especially since they still have it hooked to a harness during the test runs.

i agree with others..its cool...

but their robots prototypes have been out there for 5-10 years now


and this doesn't look much different than the last time i saw a video

The contract was awarded in 2010, I believe...

DARPA would have made many advancements by now, we can assume that much.

This thing freaks me out so bad. Especially the videos where they kick it and it strugles to keep itself standing. Seems too life like.

I still want to see it fetch a ball.