Land Systems / Battlefield

Boston Dynamics BigDog

Rough-Terrain Cargo-Hauling Battlefield Robot [ 2005 ]

The United States military has since shelved the BigDog battlefield mule robot concept for the time being.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 12/28/2018 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

GO TO SPECIFICATIONS [+]

Advertisements

BigDog is a robotic product currently under development by Boston Dynamics of Waltham, Massachusetts. The company holds origins tied to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and has been in existence since 1992. BigDog represents one of a handful of well-known robotics projects currently under development and funded by DARPA's Tactical Technology Office. The US DoD's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency holds the intention of militarizing BigDog to work in conjunction with US ground forces at the squad level - the vision being that of BigDog carrying extra equipment and "weighty" items for troops on the move, freeing up soldiers to last longer and do more.

At its core, BigDog is a true quadruped robotics system utilizing a system of hydraulics and actuators under computer control. The robot operates on commands via a human-managed remote control unit (Operator Control Unit = OCU) and is designed specifically to manage uneven terrains, keeping up with fellow soldiers at crawling, walking or running speeds (up to 4.4 miles per hour). Four jointed legs at each corner of the body handle its steps while an integrated balancing system ensures that the BigDog stays upright. During testing, BigDog consistently proved its ability to quickly recover from being pushed along one side. Additional testing has also placed BigDog on its spine, only to see the system stand upright under its own power. Onboard sensors and programming allow BigDog to navigate varying terrain (including trees, rock, snow and muddy surfaces) without the need for precise user interaction. Onboard systems are managed by BigDog itself.

Since the machine is designed as a cargo hauler, a heavy-duty rack system is installed about the sides of the robot to be used for stowage. Up to 340lbs of cargo can be hauled from one point to another and even jumping over obstacles is also a possibility - BigDog possessing a 1.1 meter high leap in the lab. BigDog weighs in at 240lbs without a cargo load and stands 2.5 feet tall with a 3 foot running length.

Beyond Boston Dynamic's participation in the project, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Harvard University Concord Field Station and Foster Miller have also had a hand in its development.

In 2013, a BigDog was unveiled that featured a trainable arm with 50 lb weight limited. Also in 2013 it was revealed that Boston Dynamics was purchased by Google.

In-depth trials of the BigDog followed in 2014 but revealed several failings - mainly with the noise generated by the onboard gasoline engine. Additionally there were concerns about maintenance difficulties. This has led to the U.S. military shelving the concept of a "robot mule" for the foreseeable future as Google also continues its move away from military-minded contracts. The announcement was revealed in late-December 2015.

Boston Dynamics is said to be continuing its work in the field in an effort to introduce its robot technology for industry purposes instead.

Specifications

Service Year

2005

Origin

United States

Crew

1
CREWMEN

Production

4
UNITS

Boston Dynamics / Google - USA

(View other Vehicle-Related Manufacturers)

United States (cancelled)

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Special Purpose
Special purpose design developed to accomplish an equally-special battlefield role or roles.

Length

3.3 ft
1 m

Height

2.3 ft
0.7 m

Weight

165 lb
75 kg

(Showcased structural values pertain to the base Boston Dynamics BigDog production variant. Length typically includes main gun in forward position if applicable to the design)

Powerplant: 1 x Gasoline Engine driving quadruped hydaulic actuation system.

Speed

3.3 mph
(5.3 kph)

(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base Boston Dynamics BigDog production variant. Compare this entry against any other in our database)

None. Up to 400 lb of cargo.

Supported Types

(Not all weapon types may be represented in the showcase above)

None.

"BigDog" - Series Product Name

Military lapel ribbon for the American Civil War

Military lapel ribbon for pioneering aircraft

Military lapel ribbon for the Arab-Israeli War

Military lapel ribbon for the Battle of the Bulge

Military lapel ribbon for the Battle of Kursk

Military lapel ribbon for the Falklands War

Military lapel ribbon for the Indo-Pak Wars

Military lapel ribbon for the Korean War

Military lapel ribbon for the 1991 Gulf War

Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft

Military lapel ribbon for the Soviet-Afghan War

Military lapel ribbon for the Spanish Civil War

Military lapel ribbon for the Ukranian-Russian War

Military lapel ribbon for the Vietnam War

Military lapel ribbon for the World War 1

Military lapel ribbon for the World War 2

Military lapel ribbon for the Yom Kippur War

Military lapel ribbon for experimental military vehicles

Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective campaigns / operations.

Images Gallery

1 / 3

2 / 3

3 / 3

❮ ❯

Advertisements

Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2022 US Military Pay Army Ranks Navy Ranks Marine Ranks Air Force Ranks USCG Ranks Compare Ranks (NEW!) DoD Dictionary Military Ribbons Identification Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols American War Deaths French Military Victories Vietnam War Casualties

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), and SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane.

www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-