Just weeks after revealing a larger, stronger sibling to its flagship BigDog robot, Waltham, Massachusetts-based firm Boston Dynamics has released video of a formidable-looking humanoid robot, called PETMAN.
 

PETMAN bears more than a passing resemblance to an early-model Cylon. But an evil uprising is unlikely - PETMAN's humanoid shape is for testing clothing meant to protect soldiers from exposure to biological and chemical warfare agents. Because PETMAN can walk, crouch, kneel, and do push-ups and simple callisthenics, the robot can test gear for weaknesses more thoroughly than static dummies or partially mobile robots. It can also test conditions inside of the suit by simulating changes in temperature, humidity, and sweating.
 

PETMAN's quadrupedal cousins, BigDog and AlphaDog, are perhaps most famous for being able to react and recover from kicks and shoves that would send other robots sprawling to the ground. PETMAN is no different, staggering and balancing itself after light pushes. Early versions were based on the same basic design as BigDog, albeit with 50 per cent fewer legs. This latest version is more refined, with swinging arms, a more natural gait, and a distinctly humanoid shape.