I wouldn't call myself "in the loop" when it comes to technology, so this clip may not be news or interesting to some of you, but I found it totally amazing.

"Big Dog" Robot pack mule

Undoubtedly the most nimble robot I've ever seen, and one step further into the future---this kind of stuff was totally sci-fi when I was a kid...damn am I old...

AT-AT, here we come!!

I found that a bit scary.

I am trying to imagine what they are going to do with that technology. I dont think I can stand that well on ice.

The article indicated that this would be essentially a heavy pack mule for soldiers, however, I can imagine it being fitted with cameras and guns as an automated assault unit. If the government is funding the research, you can be certain that they'll eventually make a weapon out of it.

I can't help but think of "Terminator" when I see stuff like this...

that was really scary. freaked me out.

really looked like some crazy cyborg mutant deer....

Holy Jeebus!! If I ever saw that in the woods I'd end up shooting the hell out of it,,after I change my underpants that is.

It's being developed by Boston Dynamics, a division of Cyberdine Systems.

damn.......ghosts in the machine already took down the link.......damn cyberdine....

Try again ... link works fine for me.

Amazing locomotion and balance recovery. The balance is probably in part a function of the opposing "knees" of the hind and fore legs. I've never seen that before but it makes perfect sense in the service of balance maneuvers.

DARPA's direction in military robotics is, like all things DARPA, a little weird in the pre-deployment stage. Recent announcements would have it that they foresee a future in which America's wars will be not merely assisted but perhaps even fought by robots. Nothing is being said about the fact that any number of potential enemies might either be on parallel track technologically (namely China or her allies) or would catch up at some point, by which I mean ... if both sides are to pit robots against robots SRL-style, and if there are few or no civilian casualties, then that sort of warfare by proxy is almost more like sport than actual war. For me the most frightening prospect would be a scenario in which robots are sent into a residential zone to secure and detain the populace. The militaries of wealthy countries will always have more advanced tech than the citizenry.

Imagine being chased up a hill by one of these things. You get tired, it doesn't. You trip and sprain your ankle, it trips and gets right back up, undamaged. You shoot at it, nothing happens. It shoots at you with inhuman precision ...

OK enough Frankenstein Complex fear-mongering for now.

Remember Arthur C. Clarke fondly. For now the robots are still our slaves.