--- title: "China Builds Giant Walking Military Robot" description: "China claims to have built the \"world's largest quadruped bionic robot,\" a gigantic \"mechanical yak\" that can carry over 350 pounds at a shambling 6.2 mph." date: "2022-01-24" modified: "2022-01-24" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/china-giant-walking-military-robot" categories: - "Military" - "Robotics" - "Robots and Machines" - "Science & Energy" tags: - "china" - "DARPA" - "quadruped robot" - "the digest" --- # China Builds Giant Walking Military Robot ![China claims to have built the "world's largest quadruped bionic robot," a gigantic "mechanical yak" that can carry over 350 pounds at a shambling 6.2 mph.]() *\Image: CCTV\* ## Yak Attack China claims to have built the "world's largest quadruped bionic robot," a gigantic "mechanical yak" that can carry over 350 pounds at a shambling 6.2 mph, according to [a report by the state-run *Global Times*](). The goal is to carry gear for soldiers stationed in remote areas. A [clip shared]() by the *People's Daily*, also associated with the Chinese government, shows a behemoth-sized quadruped going for a stroll along an empty road. It can also be seen tackling dusty inclines in the desert, an impressive mechanical feat that could one day be of huge benefit in areas inaccessible to conventional vehicles, and even weaponized. https://twitter.com/PDChina/status/1482037293128962050 ## Rise of the Quadruped The design is certainly pretty familiar at this point. The robot bears a striking resemblance to Boston Dynamics' DARPA-funded quadruped "AlphaDog" robot, which was first [shown off to the public]() back in 2012. A different design by the company, called "BigDog," [dates back to 2005]() and was capable of lugging 340 pounds at 4 mph. China's new robot yak is capable of moving forward, backward, and diagonally. According to state media, it can even "dash and jump." The country's military is apparently envisioning using it to lug materials including munitions and food through mountainous regions or deserts where conventional vehicles struggle. More worryingly, the report also suggests the robot could be weaponized for recon missions — the equivalent of a drone, but on the ground. **China also developed a** much more compact dog-sized quadruped, dubbed Geda, could also help schlep supplies in remote areas. China's latest arsenal of quadruped robots proves the country's latest technological advancements when it comes to the battlefield, a rapidly growing industry that could change the face of combat forever. **READ MORE:** [China develops world's largest quadruped bionic robot for delivery, reconnaissance tasks]() \[*Global Times*\] **More on quadruped:** *[Experts Shocked by Military Robodog With Sniper Rifle Attachment]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()