The next big thing in urban commuting?
If you’re fed up with your Hummer, Segway, monowheel, fixie, wakeboard or whatever your means of commuting you prefer – switch to BigDog. This beast beats ‘em all. It hit the news this week because of the attention it’s attracting on YouTube. Watch the video and you’ll see why.
The US military has invested millions in creating this robot with characteristics of people, dogs and horses. Although it’s designed to help troops transport heavy loads in tough terrain, the general public is expected to be able to buy it soon.
Could this be the next trend in commuting? It’ll guarantee you an extraordinary ride to work. And it’s a breakthrough in parking, driving your kids around and getting your shopping bags home. Amazing work from Big Dog’s designers at Boston Dynamics. I think it’s got potential…even if it looks a bit odd!
BigDog is actually a DARPA financed project. DARPA is the US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency, and they actually tried to develop a mechanical elephant during the Vietnam war – with no succes. Looks like they never gave up the idea.
Here’s a list of other unbelievable projects they are working on – it is a seriously fascinating universe:
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0401-08.htm
Date: April 13th, 2008 at 19:33 Name: David FellahThe artist Theo Jansen created some unique moving creatures – watch them on YouTube.
Date: April 15th, 2008 at 20:44 Name: Rasmus Løgstrup Jensen