7 ms·

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

34 points by brandnewly 17y ago

geuis 17y 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.
detcader 17y 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 17y 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 17y 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.
- blackguardx 17y 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.
guitarjunkie 17y ago
If anyone is in Boston, Harvard has a (i believe) monthly seminar put on by the iic-cs and last year around this time Boston dynamic was one of the guests. They're usually fascinating talks.
joeycfan 17y 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 17y ago
  The US Army has been using autonomous robotic soldiers for years now, they just aren't humanoid.
- jws 17y ago
  May you find what you are looking for – ultimate of three escalating curses. [1] http://xkcd.com/652/ http://xkcd.com/652/ 1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_you_live_in_interesting_times http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_you_live_in_interesting_tim...
- sown 17y 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.
  - joeycfan 17y ago
    Yes but I remember when computers weighed 16 tons.. today people stick a better one than that in their ear....
KiwiNige 17y 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.
blackguardx 17y 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 17y 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 17y ago
I must say their earlier robot, big dog, walked suspiciously like a human as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXJZVZFRFJc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXJZVZFRFJc ;)
- joeycfan 17y ago
  a human with a servere case of the farts...
erikstarck 17y ago
Fascinating. Now take a look at this video of sprinter Oscar Pictorious: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ON4B-fNCvSg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ON4B-fNCvSg and add the two technologies. Cyborgs, here we come.
speek 17y 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_ 17y ago
You know what I worry about, war becoming too "easy". Drones, robots, etc. with little or no human toll to pay.

34 points by brandnewly 17y ago

geuis 17y 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.

detcader 17y 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 17y 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 17y 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.
blackguardx 17y 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.

guitarjunkie 17y ago

If anyone is in Boston, Harvard has a (i believe) monthly seminar put on by the iic-cs and last year around this time Boston dynamic was one of the guests. They're usually fascinating talks.

joeycfan 17y 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 17y ago
The US Army has been using autonomous robotic soldiers for years now, they just aren't humanoid.
jws 17y ago
May you find what you are looking for – ultimate of three escalating curses. [1] http://xkcd.com/652/ http://xkcd.com/652/ 1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_you_live_in_interesting_times http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_you_live_in_interesting_tim...
sown 17y 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.
- joeycfan 17y ago
  Yes but I remember when computers weighed 16 tons.. today people stick a better one than that in their ear....

KiwiNige 17y 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.

blackguardx 17y 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 17y 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 17y ago

I must say their earlier robot, big dog, walked suspiciously like a human as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXJZVZFRFJc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXJZVZFRFJc ;)

joeycfan 17y ago
a human with a servere case of the farts...

erikstarck 17y ago

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

speek 17y 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_ 17y ago

You know what I worry about, war becoming too "easy". Drones, robots, etc. with little or no human toll to pay.