Thursday, September 24, 2009

Theme Thursday - Wild

Wanted to write something creative, but drew a blank.

However, I had my post when I stumbled across this video. All I could think was "WILD!"



How strange and amazing is that? Wild.

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This creation is from Boston Dynamics and is called BigDog.

Here is what they say about it:

BigDog is the alpha male of the Boston Dynamics robots. It is a rough-terrain robot that walks, runs, climbs and carries heavy loads. BigDog is powered by an engine that drives a hydraulic actuation system. BigDog has four legs that are articulated like an animal’s, with compliant elements to absorb shock and recycle energy from one step to the next. BigDog is the size of a large dog or small mule; about 3 feet long, 2.5 feet tall and weighs 240 lbs.

BigDog's on-board computer controls locomotion, servos the legs and handles a variety of sensors. BigDog’s control system keeps it balanced, navigates, and regulates its energetics as conditions vary. Sensors for locomotion include joint position, joint force, ground contact, ground load, a gyroscope, LIDAR and a stereo vision system. Other sensors focus on the internal state of BigDog, monitoring the hydraulic pressure, oil temperature, engine functions, battery charge and others.

In separate tests BigDog runs at 4 mph, climbs slopes up to 35 degrees, walks across rubble, climbs a muddy hiking trail, walks in snow and water, and carries a 340 lb load. BigDog set a world's record for legged vehicles by traveling 12.8 miles without stopping or refueling.

The ultimate goal for BigDog is to develop a robot that can go anywhere people and animals can go. The program is funded by the Tactical Technology Office at DARPA.


I know it's just a robot, but the lack of a head is unnerving to me!

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From Telegraph.co.uk

More Theme Thursday here.

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25 comments:

  1. my first thought was, creepy. but now that i get to the end, it is the lack of head that does it i think. amazing! wow. great piece wings.

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  2. For the first half of the video I just assumed it was two thin fellas with a cardboard box on their heads. You are right, that is pretty wild.

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  3. I don't know if I'd go so far as to say "wild"...but freaking, freakity freak kinda fits. I'm having nightmares tonight, I just know it!

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  4. soon the world will be overrun by creatures like these! egad, that's wild!

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  5. Interesting, Wings! Figured DARPA would be in on the fun. This looks like a more advanced version...

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  6. Checked it out on u-tube. Has fantatic action. But I agree, it needs that head,lol.
    Happy TT

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  7. Without the head, how would it fetch my morning paper? LOL! Great, wild post!

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  8. OMG, that's so freaky cool. Don't think I wanna go out and see a bunch of those things walking around everywhere though.

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  9. WHY does this thing TOTALLY freak me out?!?!?!?
    I mean...it causes me anxiety!
    I felt sorry for it when it was slipping on the ice!
    I must be losing it!
    DEFINITELY WILD!! DEFINITELY.

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  10. Freaky---yes! Eww, if I saw that I wouldn't know how to respond. I jsut saw a giant spider last night and squished it but this thing, if it was all alone and walking towards me at night? the legs are the weirdest part. Great find, anyway, and thanks for visiting my blog. I love those theme thursdays to get a chance to "meet" new blogs.

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  11. Another interesting take on wildness!

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  12. That is wild! Kind of freaks me out actually.

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  13. What a scream. That is totally cool. My question is "Why do dogs always walk through the snow when there is a perfectly good clear road?"

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  14. Creepy...wild...I agree! The size of a small mule? That would feel very strange ....that large of a robot?...I mean, what if something went haywire? I'd be afraid it would squish me! ha!

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  15. Holy moly. Reminds me of The Hound from Fahrenheit 451. Okay, that's not a good reminder.

    Wow.

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  16. Totally Wild! See, this is why I love nerds and geeks, they come up with this stuff!

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  17. Hi! Wings,
    Creepy,(Only because of it unfamiliarity) Wild, and Unique!
    Thanks,for sharing!

    DeeDee ;-D
    By the way, will it be alright if I send you, an email about October and Halloween?

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  18. Maybe Jason Vorhees hacked it's head off? LMAO!

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  19. Brian - Definitely amazing.

    Alan - Yeah, seems a lot of people thought it was two people at first!

    Ravyn - HAH! Yeah, it could be nightmare inducing!

    Tom - Let's hope not!

    Subtorp - Well, if you say so! :)

    Dreamhaven - Without a doubt!

    Skip - Just for aesthetic purposes, they need to add a head!

    CatLadyLarew - I agree!

    R.J. - I know I don't!

    Jill - I felt the same way!!!

    ...mmm... - Without a doubt! And glad to have a new visitor! :)

    Willow - YEP!

    e - Thanks!

    Liza - Yep, I hear ya!

    Michael - They like a challenge?

    Betsy - Okay, that makes it worse!

    Megan - No, it is not!

    Baino - Hah, yeah, but they still need to give it a head!

    Jayne - Yes, yes and yes!

    DeeDee - Creepy for sure! And sure, email me! wings1295@gmail.com

    Otin - Jason wouldn't have let it walk away!

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  20. that is seriously wild and weird

    my cat is totally freaked out by it

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  21. That looks and sounds like a fly with no wings (no pun intended).

    Nuts. Good ol' DARPA.

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