Skynet's inception date has come...

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

... and gone unremarked.

But.

Some of the first steps really are here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1czBcnX1Ww

[youtube=425,350]W1czBcnX1Ww[/youtube]

This thing is an amazing mimic of evolved 4 legged motion.  Late in the video, it even gallops and hops/jumps similar to a horse.

Also, it's kinda creepy...

[pieces o nine]

I've seen sort clips of similar (? or the same?) creature before, but that was some video!  Some bits of its locomotion reminded me quite strongly of Chinese Dragon dancers, or the human actors learning to work with the Landstrider costumes in The Dark Crystal.

Watching it scrabble around on the ice and over the concrete block pile was ... disturbing. 

[Aggie]

Some early footage of the Big Dog:

[youtube=425,350]VXJZVZFRFJc[/youtube]

Seriously, though - for motion control, the approach taken is with this robot is very good.  Instead of humans trying to program for every possibility, they let the thing learn what works and what doesn't.  The fact that it looks uncannily natural is a testament to nature.

[Griffin NoName]

Shame about the buzzing noise. I felt like getting my insect killer spray out. Also, it reminds me of a pantomime horse.

[Swatopluk]

I think we talked about this (and his companion Little Dog) here some years ago.

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

Shame about the buzzing noise. I felt like getting my insect killer spray out. Also, it reminds me of a pantomime horse.

Note how the one in the lab attached to the big frame with cables going out is pretty silent. My guess is that the either hydraulic or electric servos require a power supply and the easier thing they could do was to use a two stroke engine likely from a mower or something similar. If the thing needs electricity I imagine a LiIon battery pack would make it far more silent, if it's hydraulic some noise is bound to happen regardless of the energy source.

I think we talked about this (and his companion Little Dog) here some years ago.

I have the same feeling. It's still cool, though.

[Opsa]

It's the headlessness that I find bothersome.

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

Some early footage of the Big Dog:

[youtube=425,350]VXJZVZFRFJc[/youtube]

Seriously, though - for motion control, the approach taken is with this robot is very good.  Instead of humans trying to program for every possibility, they let the thing learn what works and what doesn't.  The fact that it looks uncannily natural is a testament to nature.

Amusing parody of the actual robot...

[Aggie]

I hoped someone would pick up on that.

[pieces o nine]

Looks like they kept losing their  --[duct tape]--  flip-flops!