SpotMini - Four legged Robot that looks like a pet

A bunch of highly motivated and enthusiastic team of engineers and scientists who began as a spin-off from Massachusetts Institute of Technology have been developing robots that mimic animal actions, run like them and somewhat look like them too. They call themselves Boston Dynamics, now they are taking this passion to new heights by combining principals of dynamic control and balance with sophisticated mechanical designs, cutting-edge electronics, and software for perception, navigation, and intelligence. They have been coming up with robots which cater to industries, military, offices, homes, and other stakeholders.

They have now build a robot that looks like man’s best friend and can move around, sit and pick up and move objects with its arms. They have named it SpotMini. This four legged robot looks like a dog and can handle objects, climb stairs can operate indoors and outdoors. The tagline for this robot is “Good things come in small packages”.

Here is a video of SoptMini maneuvering in the backyard:

SpotMini is a small four-legged robot that comfortably fits in an office or home. It weighs around 25 kg without the arms as the arms weigh 5 kg. So with arms, the weight is 30 kg. It can lift around 14 kg payload. SpotMini is battery operated and with a single charge, it can function for 90 minutes depending upon the tasks assigned. As per Boston Dynamics “SpotMini is the quietest robot we have built”.

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SpotMini is an immediate sibling of Spot and inherits all the mobility of its bigger brother. SpotMini has added the ability to pick up and handle objects using its 5 degree-of-freedom arm and beefed up perception sensors. The sensor suite includes stereo cameras, depth cameras, an IMU, and position/force sensors in the limbs. These sensors help with navigation and mobile manipulation.

Spot as already said is an elder sibling of SpotMini and has following features: Spot weighs 75 kg and can lift 45 kg payload. It is also battery operated and has 360 Scanning LIDAR. For those who don’t know LIDAR, it is a detection system which works on the principle of radar but uses light from a laser.

Boston Dynamics are doing a great job and making groundbreaking robots that can be used in multiple fields including the military. Boston Dynamics has also built many other robots and humanoids that go by the names Atlas, Handle, LS3, WildCat, BigDog, SandFlea, and Rhex. Each robot serves their own specific purpose with precision. Atlas humanoid is the one to watch out for.

Boston Dynamics take pride in building machines that both break boundaries and work in the real world.

Update 06/06/19 : Spot to go on sale later this year as confirmed by Boston Dynamics.

Watch this video where Spot pulls a whole truck. A scene out of sci-fi movie.