Google-owned Boston Dynamics has created a new robotic dog called 'Spot' that can easily navigates an office on its own, climb a flight of stairs and a hill.
'Spot' weighs around 160 lbs and can operate both indoors and outside. The small robotic dog is very agile and can easily run over rough terrain with the help of a head-mounted sensor. It can withstand kicks and recovers in a way that looks organic and safe. Earlier the company had made a 240 pounds robotic dog called 'BigDog' which can carry 340 lbs and can operate in environments where there isn’t much room to navigate.
The firm describes Spot on its website as: "Spot is a four-legged robot designed for indoor and outdoor operation. It is electrically powered and hydraulically actuated. Spot has a sensor head that helps it navigate and negotiate rough terrain. Spot weighs about 160 lbs".
Boston Dynamic’s which makes robots primarily for the US Army and other military organisations was acquired by Google last year. They plan to use the small robot dog to accompany troops on the ground and carry kit and explore places where humans can’t go.
The firm site list 10 robots, including the Cheetah, which the company claims is the fastest legged robot in the world, and another robot called sand Flea, which can drive around like a remote control car but jump 30 foot into the air.
Source: Boston Dynamics