Fed2 Star - the newsletter for the space trading game Federation 2

The weekly newsletter for Fed2
by ibgames

EARTHDATE: March 3, 2013

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REAL LIFE NEWS: BIGDOG GROWS AN ARM

by Hazed

The four-legged BigDog robot, designed to carry heavy loads over rough terrain, now comes in a new version - with a powerful arm that can lift and throw breezeblocks.

BigDog was designed by US robotics company Boston Dynamics. As the name suggests, it is the size of a large dog. Its four legs mimic those of an animal and can absorb shocka and recycle energy as the machine moves around. It can perform simple tasks and obey voice commands while moving about rugged ground, using its legs to take rapid steps that ensure it always stays upright.

Now a new video shows BigDog with an arm on its front. It picks up a heavy breezeblock and flings it backwards quite a distance - over its shoulder, so to speak. Watch a video at the source link below.

It’s primarily designed for military use, and the Pentagon backs its development. Robotics experts say that BigDog has potential in many other areas, such as search and rescue, looking for lost children or walkers on mountainsides. Frankly, I can see it being a huge use getting the shopping home from the supermarket - and perhaps it won’t be long until there’s one you can ride on, too.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21630212

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