SpotMini Shows Improving Design & Capabilities of Quadruped Robots

By: | July 21st, 2016

Boston Dymanics Robots including SpotMini

Boston Dymanics Robots including SpotMini (Image Courtesy www.bostondynamics.com)

The Boston Dynamics motto is “Dedicated to the Science and Art of How Things Move” and its ongoing efforts to build the next generation of robots continues unabated. The lineup includes:

  • LS3, the large rough-terrain robot designed to travel with Marines and soldiers and carry up to 400 pounds of gear on a 20-mile mission lasting 24 hours.
  • Atlas, a humanoid robot capable of navigating outdoor, rough terrain and lifting and manipulating objects in its environment. Atlas has articulated and sensated hands with 28° of freedom.
  • Others include the Cheetah, BigDog, SandFlea, RHex aRiSE, and LittleDog.

Now the company has created SpotMini, a smaller version of Spot that operates quietly in confined spaces. SpotMini runs on an all electric system without hydraulics, and one charge provides as long as 90 minutes of operation with more strenuous activities reducing its operating time.

SpotMini has been designed to be extremely quiet as its expected use includes work inside the home. Onboard technology includes a number of sensors that help the robot navigate and carry out tasks. Currently, SpotMini runs autonomously but can also take human guidance when it does higher level tasks.

The following video shows SpotMini in action moving around inside an apartment, loading a dishwasher, throwing garbage into a trash can, slipping on a banana peel, falling over and then righting itself, climbing stairs, walking, jogging, and more.

David Russell Schilling

David enjoys writing about high technology and its potential to make life better for all who inhabit planet earth.

More articles from Industry Tap...