Boston Dynamics’ SpotMini could be your new ideal robotic pet.
Boston Dynamics released a video of its latest robot SpotMini, which is a cross between a dog and a giraffe. It’s a smaller version of the Spot robot which was released last year in February. SpotMini can be your ideal robotic pet, especially for those who aren’t into furry creatures. Weighing 55 pounds, the robot is seen doing basic household chores and also having some attributes close to a pet dog.
SpotMini is an all-electric robot with no hydraulics and runs for nearly 90 minutes on a single charge. It is also one of the quietest robots that Boston Dynamics has ever built. The cool aspect of the robot is that its tiny face also functions as an extra arm which carries out most of the work and also adds 10 extra pounds to its overall weight. SpotMini is seen picking up a glass and placing it in the dishwasher and throwing a can in the dustbin.
One scene which will probably have many people in laughter is how it slips on a banana peel. As it is approaching the banana peel, the obvious expectation would be the robot picking up the banana peel but the opposite happens, giving it a real dog-like attribute. However, it quickly picks itself up with the help of its limbs which have proprioception sensors. These sensors help the robot navigate its way and also in mobile manipulation. Along with the sensors, SpotMini is equipped with depth cameras and a solid state gyro (IMU). With these features, the robot does perform tasks autonomously but it still needs a human for high-level guidance.
SpotMini can be a good candidate for a robotic house pet as it moves around the house, walking under the table, and also spinning round almost like a real dog. It also climbs the stairs with no difficulty making it more likeable. The video ends with the robot serving a can of juice but not with perfection and this will hopefully be improved by the Google-owned robot inventors.
Source: bgr.in
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