Robotic ‘pack mule’ for warzones
by Angela Norton 
The US military has picked up on a robotic pack mule that may help soldiers to carry large loads in the battlefield.
BigDog is the piece de resistance in engineering company Boston Dynamics’ range of artificially intelligent robots.
The robot mimics the movement of four-legged animals and can walk, run and climb on rough terrain.
Standing at 76cm high and weighing in at 75kg, the robot is around the size of a large dog (hence its name).
The incredibly life-like bot has recently been snapped up by the Pentagon in a contract that will provide money for further development, said to be worth up to US$40 million.
Touted by Boston Dynamics as “The most advanced quadruped robot on Earth”, video footage shows the robot walking across rocky land, climbing steep slopes and regaining its own balance after being kicked.
Capable of carrying loads up to 68kg, lab testing also shows BigDog running at speeds of up to 5.3 kmph and leaping through the air like a gazelle.
An on-board computer controls BigDog’s movements and handles sensors used for a wide variety of tasks, from internal monitoring to joint position.
That’s really creepy. Now all the US govt has to figure out is how to attach guns to it so they can kill folks who say “durka durka” by remote control.