BigDog - Robot Pack Mule

It looks like there's going to be robots packing gear for our infantry in the field, although the application wouldn't be purely military.  Robotic supply trains must be on the horizon if this works out.  Big Dog is an all-terrain 4 legged robot that was inspired by an engineer's dog (way better than the wheeled rover thingy from SG-1).  This robot is loud due to the gas motor running in the prototypes, but it has pretty good terrain navigation abilities.  The AI and mechanics of this machine are pretty amazing.


http://www.bostondynamics.com/robot_bigdog.html

BigDog can do the following:

• runs at 4 mph
• can walk through mud, snow, water, and ice
• can climb slopes up to 35 degrees
• can move through rubble
• carries a 340 lb load. 

It also traveled 12.8 miles without stopping or refueling.  This machine is pretty amazing and was developed under the DARPA umbrella as the Legged Squad Support System. Created under DARPA's Big Dog Technology and called the LS3 (or Lassie).  The current version is ready to receive voice command programming with instructions like "sit," "stop," or "come here." Normally, there is a remote used to operate it. BigDog is now in its final 18-month development cycle with Army and Marine field trials last. 
In some of the video I was really impressed by how it recovered its balance after being kicked to the side.