Big Dog
Picture of BigDog
The robust legged robot, BigDog, is developed by Boston Dynamics. It is the first quadruped robot in the human history that moves at human walking speed. Designed as a pack mule and used for the U.S. military purposes to carry heavy items in rough terrain. The machine is capable of carrying upwards as much as 40 kilograms of weight. The robot has four stable legs with active balance sensors to ensure stability. Each leg has four joints with actuators. The version V3 will have an additional joint of the leg for even steeper climbing at a higher speed. BigDog can normally climb slopes, overcome rocks, and other physical obstacles without any difficulty and error. Thanks to internal force sensors, it can detect the slightest ground variations.
Robot’s Main Components
It has altogether four joints with actuators and one “elastic” joint. These are controlled by an onboard processor that performs low-level and high-level functions. Controls are responsible for the kinematics and the distribution of load. It has quadrupedal walking algorithms. The system ensures terrain sensing and posture control. BigDog can carry loads, hike, crawl, trot, jump, and run at a definite speed with a variety of surfaces. The hydraulics has a single-cylinder petrol engine. Its power source is autonomous and is supplied through a water-cooled combustion engine. A hydraulic pump delivers hydraulic oil to the actuators.
The actuators are hydraulic cylinders. The actuators have sensors that control the joints. The robot can either follow its own path, or can be controlled remotely. BigDog’s sensors (50 in total) include inertial and joint sensors, others are responsible for the monitoring of homeostasis. Active balance maintains stability after disturbances. An onboard PC is in charge of the robot’s sensors and also communicates with an operator. The controls record large data sets for performance and breakdown analysis, as well as support. The two-way communication is through the IP radios. Coming versions of BigDog will integrate a stereo vision system to get the image of the 3D terrain. Also LIDAR will be used to ensure that the machine follows the instructions given by the operator. Currently, the operator guides the robot by providing high-level input.
In my opinion, BigDog should have as strong as possible artificial intellect that would allow it to use the 3D images of data for autonomous decision-making while moving on terrain or in water.
The ultimate goal of the project is to achieve unmanned mobility close to that of animals on terrain that is currently inaccessible for vehicle.
Current Capabilities of Big Dog
BigDog has demonstrated good locomotion behaviors: for example, standing up, walking, lifting one leg at a time, trotting and lifting legs in pairs, running, galloping, and jumping too at a satisfactory speed, as well as travelling with a variety of surfaces. On flat terrain the robot can carry up to 154 kg, but normally only 50 kg. The largest hiking operation so far was 10 km. The robot can adapt to the terrain.
The most impressive capability of the invention is mobility and its partial autonomy. Big Dog can already travel to difficult places and carry heavy loads for extensive period of time. The onboard systems ensure control of essentials like power, sensing, and communications.
Impression and Description of the Robot Curiosity
This is the most sophisticated suite of science instruments ever sent to explore Mars. The robot is destined for exploring Gale Crater on Mars. Its mission is to look for life forms there, and if found examine whether the humans would be capable of surviving on Mars. The Robot is autonomous and has super-human senses, with its parts similar to a body that exists in the physical world. It has arms and legs, and brains for processing information; also controls, and senses that provide information about environment. Autonomous energy source allows it to act, communicate and achieve of specific goals.
I was most impressed by the size of the said robot: Curiosity’s size is that of a car, with six wheels instead of four. It weights almost 900 kg. By all means, the robots should continue exploring remote and hazardous places, to which humans are not able to travel to and survive yet.
Robots in Our Society
It is believed and supported by the recent research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that the robots can also influence us negatively. This is illustrated by the fact that autonomous robots have been built that have synthetic emotions. Placed in a social environment, specific control architecture of the robot enables it to pose a threat to the human being by influencing him and eventually coming to satisfy its goals.
Works Cited
Hambling, D. “Robotic 'Packmule' Displays Stunning Reflexes.” NewScientist.com news service (March 2006).
Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved from http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/rover/
Raibert, M., Blankespoor, K, Nelson, G., Playte, R. “BigDog, the Rough-Terrain Quaduped Robot.” Boston Dynamics, Waltham, MA 02451, USA.
