Boston Dynamics, the maker of robots like “Big Dog” and “Little Dog” are at it again. “PETMAN” is their latest internet sensation.
As Mikell Taylor reported on IEEE Spectrum’s Automation blog on Mon, October 26, 2009:
If you’ve been impressed with Honda’s ASIMO robot, get ready for something far more awesome.
Meet the first prototype of PETMAN, the new bipedal robot being developed by Boston Dynamics. PETMAN is designed to test chemical warfare suits by imitating the same range and speed of motion as a human being — walking, running, climbing, crawling, and so forth.
What you’re seeing here is the first released video of PETMAN’s proof-of-concept prototype. Using much of the same hardware as the famous BigDog robot, they’ve developed a self-balancing (but currently externally powered) prototype that walks on a large treadmill. The prototype has a top speed of 3.2mph — well over Asimo’s top walking speed, and nearly its running speed. It also appears that the walking speed adapts automatically to the speed of the treadmill.