User:VilkaTheWolf/Sandbox2
BigDog[edit | edit source]
 | |||
| Production Information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date created | 2005 | ||
| Manufacturer | |||
| Class | Military robot | ||
| Technical Information | |||
| Length | 0.91m | ||
| Height | 0.76m | ||
| Weight | 110kg | ||
BigDog, a dynamically stable quadruped military robot, was developed in 2005 through collaboration between Boston Dynamics, Foster-Miller, the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the Harvard University Concord Field Station. Despite being funded by DARPA, the project was halted due to BigDog being considered too noisy for combat applications.
Description[edit | edit source]
Design[edit | edit source]
BigDog is a quadruped military robot. It measured 0.91 m in length, stood 0.76 m tall, and weighed 110 kg, akin to a small mule. Powered by a two-stroke, one-cylinder, 15-brake-horsepower go-kart engine operating at over 9,000 RPM, it drove hydraulic leg actuators. The robot's computing power relied on a ruggedized PC/104 board stack with a Pentium 4 class computer running QNX.
Performance[edit | edit source]
BigDog's purpose was to accompany soldiers in rough terrains where conventional vehicles struggled. It demonstrated dynamic stability, traversing difficult landscapes, running at 6.4 km/h, carrying 150 kg, and climbing a 35-degree incline. Locomotion was controlled by an onboard computer managing various sensors, offering versatile walking patterns from crawling to trotting.
History[edit | edit source]
The BigDog project was initiated in 2005 and headed by Dr. Martin Buehler.
On 26 June 2006, a pair of BigDogs were given a test run at the Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C. via remote control. A MV-22 Osprey flew overhead as Lance Cpl. M. L. Meier photographed the robots.
In December 2015, the project was discontinued due to concerns about the noise generated by its gas-powered engine, limiting its potential use in combat.
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (photo only)