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Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Tech / War Big Dog Now Little, Still Scary

Posted by Anthony Hecht on Wed, May 26, 2010 at 12:56 PM

Remember the DARPA-funded Big Dog robot? It's a giant robot that looks like two giant dogs ran headlong into each other and fused in the middle. Then they got smart, and learned how to never fall over and carry weapons. Seriously, when that guy kicks it and it just stumbles around but won't fall over? Fuck that.

Well, now they've made it small. It's even more amazing, and possibly more scary. The thought that my child will some day (soon) find this quaint and clumsy is giving me chills.

Comments (14) RSS

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damn that's impressive. well into the uncanny-valley. i want one!

Posted by theophrastus on May 26, 2010 at 1:08 PM

Can it swim?

Posted by DOUG.

on May 26, 2010 at 1:16 PM

Ah, the effort to reduce the political cost of warmaking by replacing meat soldiers with metal ones. Your child will some day (soon) have the opportunity to eco-friendlily walk or ride his bike to work for a private contractor to the US Army, where he will use a joystick to operate something like this to control overseas populations within our sphere of interest.

Posted by gloomy gus on May 26, 2010 at 1:19 PM

I want a horse version I can ride to work.

Posted by Ben on May 26, 2010 at 1:33 PM

When are these considered a life form? It's mesmerizing and repugnant in a strange way.

Posted by Vince on May 26, 2010 at 1:35 PM

@2: Does it blend?

Posted by Juris on May 26, 2010 at 1:38 PM

Now cut off one of its legs and see if it'll start walking upright.

Posted by Ben on May 26, 2010 at 1:40 PM

I don't know about anyone else, but it was the phrase "provides for safe human interaction with possibly dangerous robots" that got my attention.

Posted by Judah

on May 26, 2010 at 1:42 PM

@3, I predict terrorists will utilize these before the US Army successfully does.

Posted by Fnarf

on May 26, 2010 at 2:09 PM

Best part is the convenient carrying handle in its back.

Posted by Peter F on May 26, 2010 at 2:20 PM

My first thought was of Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 and the terrifying mechanical hound, which scared the crap out of me. But I find this video fascinating... Not scary, just... fascinating.

Posted by Mycelium on May 26, 2010 at 7:05 PM

To be honest, this scares me. Not for what it is in essence, but for what will be done with it.

Peter F @ 10: I wonder if it freaks out when you pick it up? Probably just hangs the legs full length.

Posted by Cynic Romantic on May 26, 2010 at 8:11 PM

Nononono I hate it and I hate the Big Dog version even more. All these things are for is carrying weapons. They don't move right, that is to say they move too naturally. They scare me.

Posted by samktg on May 26, 2010 at 8:53 PM

@3: The whole point of it is that it doesn't need a joystick. I imagine an operator would just be sending it coordinates to go to and checking up on it here and there.

Posted by venomlash on May 27, 2010 at 7:32 AM