Journal Entry #5 Article on technological advancments

Big Dog robot gets an even bigger brother

13:57 4 October 2011

Robots

Technology

MacGregor Campbell, consultant

Big Dog, the incredibly agile quadruped robot from Waltham, Massachusetts-based Boston Dynamics, has a big brother...and a burly-looking humanoid cousin.

Like BigDog, AlphaDog is a DARPA-funded robotic pack-mule designed to carry all the heavy gear that a modern soldier lugs into the field. It can carry a payload of just over 181 kilograms a distance of 32 kilometres, as opposed to 154 kg and 19 km for BigDog.

Part of BigDog's appeal is its uncanny ability to balance itself. AlphaDog is no different, but whereas BigDog can be upset by a stiff kick to the side, it takes the best efforts of two adults to knock AlphaDog off its game.

It also boasts some new innovations, such as a rounded body frame that allows it to right itself if it tips over and it could potentially be outfitted with a robotic arm where its head would be.

Videos from a keynote address by Boston Dynamics President, Marc Raibert, last week at the International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems in San Francisco, showed AlphaDog in action. He also showed a video of the latest version of his company's humanoid robot, PETMAN. The project started as an attempt to make a two-legged BigDog but has evolved into a much more human-like form.

Raibert says the robot was designed to have the height and stature of an average human, and is meant to serve as an active test dummy for chemical and biological warfare protective gear. In videos, the bot has some of the same agility as its four-legged cousins, able to recover from light shoves and adapt its stride to varied terrain and speeds.

Reflection on the Article" Big Dog robot gets an even bigger brother"

This article really reflects the advancement in technology and how science keeps on improving through the years and will continue to advance as long as humans live on this planet. We are introduced in this article on the Big Dog robotic project which seems to be in good progress. The dog is fully designed by scientist and is going to be used in the U.S navy force against the Taliban's.


In the video it shows how the robotic dog can manoeuvres through many different courses and the abilities the dog can perform. it is specifically designed to withstand any sort of situation confronted by the dog in war conditions. It is shown to have the capabilities of pushing of two male adults which are pushing against it, this is really impressive.


This article shows us how technology has advanced over the years and how many situations can be confronted and solve without the use of manpower. It kind of reflects that back in the days it was very hard to travel and to create things that can effectively help man with no use of manpower at all.  And it was extremely hard to create something that could withstand almost any kind of situation which can be confronted in reality.


The thing I find puzzling, is apparently in the video, the robot is missing the very critical energy recovery and surface adoption mechanism that is the usual digigrade animal foot. Wonder how much extra engineering would be involved, but how much improvement in performance.


By Joseph Hassan 11A