Google Joins The Military-Industrial Complex (Robots and "BigDog" Zombie Drones)

BuzzFeed ^ | December 14, 2013 | Johmn Herman

[lbryce]

Google has acquired Boston Dynamics, creator of the BigDog, CHEETAH, and PETMAN robots, according the the New York Times. The purchase is Google’s latest investment in advanced robotics — a new priority for the search company and one that it has recently added to its list of “moonshot” initiatives.

Boston Dynamics represents a new type of acquisition for Google. It is best known for projects that were carried out under military contracts, such as the tottering BigDog robot, a demonstration of which went viral in

BigDog’s development was funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which is part of the Department of Defense. Boston Dynamics’ other DARPA-funded projects include:

- CHEETAH, a four-legged robot that holds a land speed record - PETMAN, a bipedal, humanoid robot that walks convincingly like a person - RiSE, a wall-climbing bot - Atlas, a Terminator-esque successor to the PETMAN

The substance of the DARPA contracts varies. BigDog, for example, was designed to assist soldiers in carrying supplies over difficult terrain. Atlas is being engineered as part of a DARPA challenge “to develop robots capable of assisting humans in responding to natural and man-made disasters.”

Google has not laid out its intentions for Boston Dynamics, nor has it disclosed a purchase price. The company says it will honor current military contracts, but that it does not currently “plan to move toward becoming a military contractor on its own.” Still, the acquisition may draw suspicion from critics who have suggested that Google is straying from its iconic mission statement — particularly in light of its continued appearance in the ongoing NSA disclosures, and rekindled questions about its privacy policies.

[lbryce]

You've seen the BigDog "Walking Zombie Dog" a few years back. But this new version, Google 'BigDog'Zombie is downright scary as heck to watch. It's got a similar configuration like the one first seen in 2008 but this thing has an even more terrifying gait. You'll see what I mean when you see it walking in the forest in the first video.

If you've never seen one before and you see it coming in your direction, especially in a wooded area or when the light is low, you are going to run as fast as you can.

Now, I'm thinking, I just read how Amazon is going to be delivering their products across the country. It wasn't mentioned how it would go about it but the fact is drones are getting ready to replace UPS, Fedex manned delivery service by the deployment of a huge drone force. Now, just for a moment think what if, Amazon gets one of these robots flying in on a drone and once it lands the robot walks over to your door with the package in his hand??? Just might be the thing of the future before you know it.

YouTube:'BigDog'Zombie:Scariest Looking Thing Especially Coming In Your Direction

YouTube:Google Robot Army At Your Service

[magellan]

Google is intensely partisan when it comes to dealing with the Federal Government--It makes Fox News look unbiased. Its money, its people, and its information are tightly managed to benefit only one side in Washington. Google, the monopoly vendor of personal data, is now establishing a monopoly position among military robotics contractors.

RoboCop, meet 1984. Omni Consumer Products, meet Orwell. Cyberdyne Systems, meet the Ministry of Truth. Skynet, meet Big Brother.

Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid.

[nascarnation]

Crony capitalism....Chicago and NorCal style....

[mountainlion]

Gives a new meaning to Orwell’s “Animal Farm”