Current Events

I'm doing my Current Events on Big Dog, as Dr.G introduced in DT class. Big Dog is the 2nd most advanced rough terrain robot in the world made in Boston Dynamics with funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Achieving up to11 kph and going 20.5 km without recharging, breaking world records for longest distances traveled by machines with legs. It weighs 109 kg but can carry a payload of 170 kg . Its 1 meters long, .3 meters wide, and 1.1 meters high. It's main purpose it to go anywhere and everywhere. It is called the Big Dog because it's shape is meant to resemble a dog. It has human like stability which is helped by its 4 legs.

The motivation came from the fact that less than half of the earth is accessible by any means of transport with wheels. But animals can go almost anywhere. Over the past 40 years the idea of a locomotive with legs has been embraced by scientists. But only now after 1986 have scientists really had the technology to pursue the idea and make it fact. We have been making machines that can hop and run on 2 legs as well as 4, achieving a world record of 21 kph. Big Dog is the newest invention with it's own censors that tells it's on board computer how to navigate rough terrain. The Big Dog also has on board communications and controls. The 0n board computer receives information from 50 censors from around the body telling it what is happening and what to do next.

Newer versions of the Big Dog a planning to be made, some for military purposes. The newer versions are going to have a new feature of being able to right itself if it ever falls down.