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Creepy Two-Legged Robot Walks Like a Human

by Caleb Johnson on October 28, 2009 at 09:06 AM

It's not going to win any foot races, but a new robot being developed for the U.S. Army still has a leg (or two) up on its competition. The "Petman" prototype is a bipedal robot that simulates human walking (video after the break) more realistically than any other robot we've seen. According to Wired, the robot, which is being developed by Boston Dynamics, will be used to test how protective clothing responds during chemical warfare. It walks with a heel-to-toe motion at 3.2 mph and can maintain balance if pushed or bumped. Plus, the robot simulates human environmental and physiological factors -- like temperature, humidity, and "sweating" -- to provide even more realistic testing conditions.

There's a slew of walking robots out there, but "Petman" stands out in the crowd. It's hard to pinpoint what's most amazing -- the 'bot's balance or the walking motion. Just as long as the Army is really using "Petman" to test clothing, and creating a plethora of robot super soldiers. [From: Wired]

Tags: army, bostondynamics, clothing, engineering, military, robot, testing, top, walking

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