BigDog, The most advanced rough-terrain robot on the earth

The “BigDog” is a rough-terrain robot invented by Boston Dynamics, a company that specializes in building dynamic robots and software for human simulation. BigDog was initially designed as it is able to walk, run, climb and carry heavy loads. The robot simulates like a real animal, and the ultimate goal for BigDog is to develop a robot that can go anywhere people and animals can go. In the most updated tests, “BigDog” runs at 1.79 m/s, climbs slopes up to 35 degrees, walks across rubble, climbs a muddy hiking trail, walks in snow and water, and carries a 155kg load.

The working mechanism of “BigDog” is like an agent, which perceiving the environment through sensors and acting upon that environment through effectors. Like exhibited in the below figure, the force sensor will transfer the data to computer, where the movements order will be calculated and issued to Knee, Ankle, Foot, and coordinate the movements of every parts.

Currently, the “BigDog” is assigned in Afghanistan, the war zone which most of the mountain areas located to assists on the transportation of US Army (Also display in video). The ideal usage of this robot is to replace the traditional mule for carrying heavy load without feeding and fatigue problem.

The robot brain, a sophisticated computer, controls locomotion sensors that adapt rapidly to the environment. The entire control system regulates, steers and navigates ground contact. A laser gyroscope keeps BigDog on his metal paws — even when the robot slips, stumbles or is kicked over.