USMC field tests "BigDog" in Hawaii (Video)

Boston Dynamics' BigDog gets a field test in Hawaii by the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab as part of the Advanced Warfighting Experiment during Rim of the Pacific 2014 (RIMPAC). The robot is funded by DARPA and the U.S. Marines.

There are multiple technologies being tested during RIMPAC, the largest maritime exercise in the Pacific region. This year's RIMPAC features 22 countries and around 25,000 people.

In the short video you can see Lance Cpl. Brandon Dieckmann, an infantryman with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, India Co., strapping the Legged Squad Support System (LS3) sensor to his boot in order to control BigDog.

Each LS3 carries up to 400 lbs of gear and enough fuel for a 20-mile mission lasting 24 hours. LS3 automatically follows the leader using computer vision, so it does not need a dedicated driver.