Boston Dynamics PETMAN predicts the future of man as pet (video)

At this stage of its development, PETMAN is here to assist mankind. However, it's clearly fated to be weaponized as an AT-ST walker in support of Imperial ground forces. For the time being anyway, this biped humanoid is being built by Boston Dynamics to test military suits used to protect soldiers in chemical warfare. As an evolutionary advance from its four-legged BigDog platform, PETMAN does the ol' heel-toe at a healthy 3.2 MPH (5.14 KPH) and packs enough balancing intelligence to remain upright even when given a shove from the side. Check out the action after the break.

[Via Make]

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 27th 2009 3:12AM]

That's scary literally

[ImDaIllest Posted Oct 27th 2009 3:38AM]

the beginning of our end is near...

[WestCoastG Posted Oct 27th 2009 3:42AM]

War has changed...

[rony Posted Oct 27th 2009 4:25AM]

PEW PEW PEW!!!

[lecti Posted Oct 27th 2009 7:38AM]

Great. Now all it needs is jumping. And killing. ... And mooing.

[RandomGuy Posted Oct 27th 2009 10:37AM]

No need to be scared. I have it on good authority that a these can be taken down by nothing more than a few tiny Ewoks with sticks and stones.

Now it is the time to start "Project Ewok" the secret Hamster/Tamarin cross breeding program.... Our only hope!

[SmittyMcSmith Posted Oct 27th 2009 1:17PM]

how can you be scared of a rock climbing robot? notice those 5-10 climbing shoes it was sporting?

[Why should I have all the fun Posted Oct 27th 2009 3:50PM]

How humiliating to be killed by something that walks like it has a load in it's pants.

[Gad Get Posted Oct 27th 2009 4:58PM]

@ Why should I have all the fun?

I think what Stewie's trying to say is, he just killed mommy.

[Dante of the Inferno Posted Oct 27th 2009 3:14AM]

You know, at first glance, that looks like a robot is listening to a boom box.

[J u s t i n Posted Oct 27th 2009 4:11AM]

At first glance, that robot is a boom box.

[gp Posted Oct 27th 2009 6:52AM]

It looks more like a robotised ROLLEI photo camera to me.

[AdLab Posted Oct 27th 2009 7:18AM]

Anything with a sub as it's stomach is clearly a superior being

[Bryce Posted Oct 27th 2009 9:35AM]

its like the boom box that can walk around with you

[patches66 Posted Oct 27th 2009 3:55PM]

at second glance, it's wearing sneakers.

[grobbio Posted Oct 27th 2009 3:17AM]

that third joint.. where the hips should be... is not convincing me a lot...
remembers me of Metal Gear Solid...etc etc

[Wwhat Posted Oct 27th 2009 2:31PM]

Convincing you of what?

[ramifications Posted Oct 27th 2009 3:18AM]

The red shoes and the natural yet slightly off gait makes this creepy for sure. I can imagine that thing haunting children when they sleep.

[Old fogie late bloomer Posted Oct 27th 2009 9:57AM]

Creepy is right... gives me the chills. :( And yet I think it's exciting and fascinating, but still, there's something uncanny-valley about it. Not that the robot itself looks like a human, but that the movement looks... ALMOST... human. Almost, but not close enough.

[mburchett2 Posted Oct 27th 2009 8:20PM]

Says the person with a red-shoed, natural yet slightly off gait avatar of a cute, but potentially creepy dinosaur that could scare children in their sleep.

[ramifications Posted Oct 28th 2009 1:01AM]

Touche Michael. Touche.

[Teslanaut Posted Oct 27th 2009 3:23AM]

So Skynet started off as a hot pair of legs?

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 27th 2009 3:31AM]

Yeah SKYNET has started off already!I'm sure it won't be that long until we see a real terminator...

[J u s t i n Posted Oct 27th 2009 4:12AM]

Skynet's already started:

http://www.xkcd.com/652/

[J u s t i n Posted Oct 27th 2009 4:13AM]

*Skynet has

Grammar fail.

[abuuva Posted May 28th 2010 9:40AM]

Skynet = internet

Don't you understand?!?! WE ARE GOING TO DIE!!

[superhobothemillionthaccount Posted Oct 27th 2009 8:33AM]

This isn't even funny anymore.

Gotta get me a terminator costume so they wont kill me.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 27th 2009 10:06AM]

WE ARE ALREADY DEAD!

[One Love Posted Oct 27th 2009 10:39AM]

Needs more guns :

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff12/SLEETAPAWANG/STARWARS/AT-AT%20Snow%20Walker/walksize2.jpg

[Fred Posted Oct 27th 2009 5:18PM]

@Justin: Dugg for XKCD. Oh wait wrong site...

[Mr Oos Posted Oct 27th 2009 3:29AM]

you don't have to be high to think that video is hilarious...but it helps.

[ghatid Posted Oct 27th 2009 3:29AM]

Why is he so mean to that robot? Pushing it around....

[ImDaIllest Posted Oct 27th 2009 3:37AM]

you'll be running for your life from that same robot one day

[mattybe Posted Oct 27th 2009 8:55AM]

All because we didn't treat it nicer when it was younger...

[ajmortys Posted Oct 27th 2009 3:11PM]

Reminds me of those giant walking robots from Metal Gear Solid. If they teach that thing to jump, I'll crap myself.

[Teslanaut Posted Oct 27th 2009 3:38AM]

Also, Obligatory: "KILL IT, KILL IT WITH FIRE"

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 27th 2009 3:53AM]

MGS anyone?

[Tres Posted Oct 27th 2009 3:56AM]

This sure is awesome, put a chair on one of these things and get it climbing stairs, it'd be great for people who have difficulties walking.

[Shunnabunich Posted Oct 27th 2009 6:44AM]

Until it MURDERS THEM.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 27th 2009 8:40AM]

I read that as "put a chain on one of them so that it doesn't break free" because thats what I was thinking.

[Carniphage Posted Oct 27th 2009 4:04AM]

This is dramatically better than the statically-balanced, ASIMO-style walking.

Asimo walks like an old person with some kind of toilet accident.

C

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 27th 2009 4:25AM]

I'm pretty sure it's wearing 5.10 coyote climbing shoes. I won't read into that.

[dageek Posted Oct 27th 2009 2:16PM]

lol my exact thoughts... hey he stole my climbing shoes...

[FADE Posted Oct 27th 2009 4:45AM]

From an AI genetic standpoint it would be very interesting if you had it run though some generations and find the most efficient way of walking. I wonder if it would be anything like how we walk.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 27th 2009 10:07AM]

It's like you've read my mind.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 27th 2009 10:12AM]

Although, given humans having been evolved by different terrains --- I dare say that we'd spoil it to the point where it's genetic variations would cause it to be quite a bit different. I'm still confused why we're trying to make it look human -- rather then efficient.

[weeliano Posted Oct 27th 2009 4:55AM]

WorldCup 2020

Humans Versus Robots

[GGG Posted Oct 27th 2009 5:17AM]

WorldWar 3

Humans Versus Robots


fixed.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 27th 2009 10:07AM]

World War 3
Robots vs Robots

Fixed.

[Why should I have all the fun Posted Oct 27th 2009 3:49PM]

World War 4

Rocks versus Sticks


Fixed