Heat Exchanger Hugs Robot's Chest
April 14, 2010
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While it doesn't work up an actual sweat, the BigDog robot can overheat as it transports loads up to 240 lb. A heat exchanger built into its chest keeps its temperature "normal."
Go to the new liquid cooling blog on Lytron Inc.'s and you'll find some details about how an overactive electronic dog keeps its cool.
Boston Dynamics, a high-tech firm in Waltham, Mass., developed BigDog, a 240-lb., 3' long and 24" high non-furry robot designed to climb and run with on four jointed limbs. Not a lap dog, the robotic hound walks, climbs, and runs up to four miles an hour, says the company's web site, which also hosts a video of the wonderkind in action. This version of a family pet sure can tote the big stuff – up to 240 lb – and run up to four miles an hour.
During its test workouts through wooded areas, a flat-tube heat exchanger keeps BigDog from overheating, according to Lytron's blog. And Lytron should know: liquid-cooling exchangers are a specialty of the Woburn, Mass., company. The heat exchanger rests on the front "chest" of the robot.
The blog goes on to explain that flat-tube units typically cool oil, hydraulic fluid or electronics.
BigDog has kept its cool and navigated its terrain successfully enough that its designers have won a $32 million grant from the Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to design the next generation BigDog for the United States Marines.
BigDog image courtesy of Boston Dynamics © 2009
Go to the new liquid cooling blog on Lytron Inc.'s and you'll find some details about how an overactive electronic dog keeps its cool.
Boston Dynamics, a high-tech firm in Waltham, Mass., developed BigDog, a 240-lb., 3' long and 24" high non-furry robot designed to climb and run with on four jointed limbs. Not a lap dog, the robotic hound walks, climbs, and runs up to four miles an hour, says the company's web site, which also hosts a video of the wonderkind in action. This version of a family pet sure can tote the big stuff – up to 240 lb – and run up to four miles an hour.
During its test workouts through wooded areas, a flat-tube heat exchanger keeps BigDog from overheating, according to Lytron's blog. And Lytron should know: liquid-cooling exchangers are a specialty of the Woburn, Mass., company. The heat exchanger rests on the front "chest" of the robot.
The blog goes on to explain that flat-tube units typically cool oil, hydraulic fluid or electronics.
BigDog has kept its cool and navigated its terrain successfully enough that its designers have won a $32 million grant from the Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to design the next generation BigDog for the United States Marines.
