Skynet is Born, 2008

[ghemminger]

3 billion human lives ended on August 29th, 1997. The survivors of the nuclear fire called the war Judgment Day. They lived only to face a new nightmare: the war against the machines. The computer which controlled the machines, Skynet,

New Video of BigDog Quadruped Robot Is So Stunning It's Spooky

Boston Dynamics keeps working on their BigDog quadruped robot, which will probably grow to be the future AT-AT of the Pentagon. Its evolution since the last time we saw it is nothing sort of mindblowing, and a bit spooky.
It looks like an actual biological quadruped. Seeing it climb through rubble, snow, jumping over obstacles like a wild goat, and saving a near-fall on iced ground at the last second (fast forward to the middle of the video) defies belief. It feels so "animal" that I almost feel bad when they hit it to demonstrate how it regains balance on its own.
The new version of the robot can now carry 340 pounds, which is almost triple the previous weight. It looks to me that that $10 million funding they got from Darpa has been put to good use. [IEEE]

 

[TheEvilDetector]

3 billion human lives ended on August 29th, 1997. The survivors of the nuclear fire called the war Judgment Day. They lived only to face a new nightmare: the war against the machines. The computer which controlled the machines, Skynet,

New Video of BigDog Quadruped Robot Is So Stunning It's Spooky

Boston Dynamics keeps working on their BigDog quadruped robot, which will probably grow to be the future AT-AT of the Pentagon. Its evolution since the last time we saw it is nothing sort of mindblowing, and a bit spooky.
It looks like an actual biological quadruped. Seeing it climb through rubble, snow, jumping over obstacles like a wild goat, and saving a near-fall on iced ground at the last second (fast forward to the middle of the video) defies belief. It feels so "animal" that I almost feel bad when they hit it to demonstrate how it regains balance on its own.
The new version of the robot can now carry 340 pounds, which is almost triple the previous weight. It looks to me that that $10 million funding they got from Darpa has been put to good use. [IEEE]

WOW.

The movements look very natural, I would bet that there are versions of robots that are actually more advanced that what we are seeing here.

IMO future wars will probably be fought with these types of robots.

 

[ghemminger]

WOW.

The movements look very natural, I would bet that there are versions of robots that are actually more advanced that what we are seeing here.

IMO future wars will probably be fought with these types of robots.

I'm half joking - but then I'm learning more about this company - why is it funded mainly by the military - You would think that bio-robot technology would apply to a lot of corporations...

Why does the Military have to be the one to sponsor the development of this technology - sary-funny if this is ACTUALLY the birth of skynet.

 

[southerntrendkill]

Just put a microwave weapon on the back of that...

 

[pcosmar]

They can dance.
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...t&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=1&ct=image&cd=1
http://staff.aist.go.jp/s.nakaoka/movies/BandaisanHRP-2.mpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vwZ5FQEUFg

They can shoot.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/03/14/south_korean_gun_bots/
http://robots.pandemonium.de/2006/11/15/samsungs-sentry-robot/
And they F**k up.
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/weapons/robot-cannon-goes-berserk-kills-9-312443.php

 

[Kotin]

WOW.


IMO future wars will probably be fought with these types of robots.

that would defeat the purpose for most war since it is one of the best devices of population control, so i doubt it.

 

[FreeTraveler]

that would defeat the purpose for most war since it is one of the best devices of population control, so i doubt it.

Yes, but if it's used against "insurgents" or "terrorists" *cough*freedom fighters*cough then the "good guys" aren't risking their own troops.

These things are a lot scarier than having a pack of bloodhounds on your tail. With light armor, a good sensor package, some more smarts, and a better power supply, they'll be almost impossible to lose.

How would you get one of those off your tail?

Water, flight or explosives are the only things that readily come to mind.

I bet it would have no trouble getting out of a pit, unless it was lined in something slick. With mechanicals, sticking those legs in the side of the pit and walking up won't be a problem in dirt.

On edit: Part of what's so scary about this is remembering what I had to pay for a 16kb computer with 16 colors and cassette tape storage 20 years ago. What will this product look like in 5 or 10 years?

 

[pcosmar]

A band of colonial farmers and business men held of and defeated the greatest military force of the time.
A bunch of Zulu tribesmen defeated a modern well armed force.
A bunch of Afghan fighters held of and defeated the Russian army.

I learned to hunt tanks many years ago.
There are many like me.

They have weaknesses.

 

[FreeTraveler]

A band of colonial farmers and business men held of and defeated the greatest military force of the time.
A bunch of Zulu tribesmen defeated a modern well armed force.
A bunch of Afghan fighters held of and defeated the Russian army.

I learned to hunt tanks many years ago.
There are many like me.

They have weaknesses.

I'm sure they do, but what are they?

Hunting tanks sounds like a good thread for the guns and gear forum. Would you like to explain how it's done there? (theoretically, of course)

 

[pcosmar]

I'm sure they do, but what are they?

Hunting tanks sounds like a good thread for the guns and gear forum. Would you like to explain how it's done there? (theoretically, of course)

OK, see you there.

 

[familydog]

3 billion human lives ended on August 29th, 1997. The survivors of the nuclear fire called the war Judgment Day. They lived only to face a new nightmare: the war against the machines. The computer which controlled the machines, Skynet,

New Video of BigDog Quadruped Robot Is So Stunning It's Spooky

Boston Dynamics keeps working on their BigDog quadruped robot, which will probably grow to be the future AT-AT of the Pentagon. Its evolution since the last time we saw it is nothing sort of mindblowing, and a bit spooky.
It looks like an actual biological quadruped. Seeing it climb through rubble, snow, jumping over obstacles like a wild goat, and saving a near-fall on iced ground at the last second (fast forward to the middle of the video) defies belief. It feels so "animal" that I almost feel bad when they hit it to demonstrate how it regains balance on its own.
The new version of the robot can now carry 340 pounds, which is almost triple the previous weight. It looks to me that that $10 million funding they got from Darpa has been put to good use. [IEEE]

Luddites unite!

 

[ghemminger]

Yes, but if it's used against "insurgents" or "terrorists" *cough*freedom fighters*cough then the "good guys" aren't risking their own troops.

These things are a lot scarier than having a pack of bloodhounds on your tail. With light armor, a good sensor package, some more smarts, and a better power supply, they'll be almost impossible to lose.

How would you get one of those off your tail?

Water, flight or explosives are the only things that readily come to mind.

I bet it would have no trouble getting out of a pit, unless it was lined in something slick. With mechanicals, sticking those legs in the side of the pit and walking up won't be a problem in dirt.

On edit: Part of what's so scary about this is remembering what I had to pay for a 16kb computer with 16 colors and cassette tape storage 20 years ago. What will this product look like in 5 or 10 years?

Wow - your post really made me think about this - Just a few more jumps in technology and who knows - this is kinda scary

 

[123tim]

This is too scary. At least good old John Deere Tractors would never make something like this.

Maybe this video will help us all sleep better tonight:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1h3vcLybfA&feature=related

Oops.....Well, I guess it won't.

 

[TheEvilDetector]

Defeating these things will not be hard provided you have decent EMP Rifle Technology available.

Remember they have sophisticated electronics in them, which are susceptible.

So to summarise, you will need 2 rifles in future wars, one kinetic, one EMP.

Although I would imagine they would produce dual function rifles (which would have both a barrel and an antenna), where you flick a switch depending on your target.

I think in the initial stages there will be a handful of these accompanying soldiers with the soldiers wearing a specially coded beacon identifying them as friendly so the robots don't kill them. In the future, these units will probably recon and lead the path for the soldiers and probably do most of the fighting, with soldiers finishing off those enemies which have outsmarted robot's detection mechanisms and/or fire reach.

I would imagine the soldier's beacon self-destructs if the soldier's heart monitor shows flatline, so as to minimise technology leaks/protection for the enemy.
Furthermore, I would think the robot would have self-destruct capability, maybe even suicide bomber characteristics as a desperation measure.

 

[pcosmar]

It could be tied to the soldiers "chip", and hunt anything without a chip.

 

[123tim]

Apparently the same company makes this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0NFrA-Nx4Y&feature=related

 

[Primbs]

Maybe an old fashion bear trap or net could stop it.

 

[Luft97]

A band of colonial farmers and business men held of and defeated the greatest military force of the time.
A bunch of Zulu tribesmen defeated a modern well armed force.
A bunch of Afghan fighters held of and defeated the Russian army.

I learned to hunt tanks many years ago.
There are many like me.

They have weaknesses.

Of course everything has a weakness so to say, but those Afghan fighters you were talking about did not do so well against the Technology of the United States. These technologies will be a "deciding factor". Tanks are the least of anyone's worries.

 

[pcosmar]

Of course everything has a weakness so to say, but those Afghan fighters you were talking about did not do so well against the Technology of the United States. These technologies will be a "deciding factor". Tanks are the least of anyone's worries.

???
We are still losing soldiers and millions of dollars. Opium growers are doing record business.
Osama Bin ladin was not caught.
Can you explain how it is different from the Soviet occupation.
The Soviets were there years before they left.
When did we win?

 

[sidster]

Defeating these things will not be hard provided you have decent EMP Rifle Technology available.

If you are smart you'll have your light-saber handy just in case
that EMP rifle technology isn't yet readily available to the mass
consumers. I'm just saying