Video: Army’s Robot-Man Walks Like the Real Thing

I remember the very early prototypes of what became Asimo. The difference between then and the ones that were released a couple years ago was quite startling. Seeing this video specifically reminds me of the same thing. I'm envisioning how this technology will look in 5 years. I think we're a hell of a lot closer to life-like android/robots than we are away.

Indeed it does, and very impressive it is too. I cannot help wondering, though, why it is wearing shoes...unless they want to conceal some ever-so-clever technology.

Is not so much concealment as protection of expensive equipment, the carpet, and should this thing decide to do the 100 meter dash all on its own, protection of human hurdles that might otherwise get steel toes lodged in their abdomens.

I thought it would make more sense to copy the leg design from other bi-peds such as chickens, which are similar to a dogs back legs with the ankle acting more like our knee.

I'd been led to believe that our legs worked the way the do due to evolving to climb trees, then evolving back to walk on the ground leaving them less than optimal.

They are careful to point out that it walks heel-to-toe like a human. Why did they design the robot to do this? Humans only walk heel-to-toe when they wear shoes. Does a heel-to-toe walking pattern give the robot any particular advantages? Did they just design it in to make the robot appear to have a more human gait? I find this very interesting.

Also, I noticed that the robot is wearing rock climbing shoes - the 5.10 coyote to be exact. I am guessing that this is for better traction on the tread mill. Rock climbing shoes have very thin soles with no cushioning whatsoever. No human would be able to walk with a heel-to-toe gait wearing those shoes on a hard surface without considerable heel pain after a few strides.