The Big Dog by Boston Dynamics is a new project funded by DARPA.  It is a quadruped walking robot that can carry loads of up to 340 lbs.  

The Big Dog can walk, run, jump and climb through varying types of terrain, including ice and snow.  While it may look and sound a little creepy, check out how lifelike its movements are.  This is because the Big Dog was developed to mimic actual movements of different quadruped animals.  

What do you think?  Is this robot just a creepy imitation of nature?  Could this help the disabled get around, or even replace other modes of transportation? Or is this merely a step in the right direction towards having a pet dog who won't ruin your new carpet?