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Boston Dynamics' SpotMini Robot Dog Will Go On Sale Next Year (cnet.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the man's-best-friend dept.

Almost two years ago, Boston Dynamics unveiled their SpotMini robot to the world. It's a four-legged machine that can open doors and power through disturbances. CNET reports that the SpotMini will go on sale next year "for companies that want a mechanical quadruped to get to places a wheeled device can't reach." From the report: Boston Dynamics has 10 SpotMini prototypes now and will work with manufacturing partners to build 100 this year, company co-founder and President Marc Raibert said at a TechCrunch robotics conference Friday. "That's a prelude to getting into a higher rate of production" in anticipation of sales next year, he said.

Raibert didn't reveal price plans, but said the SpotMini robots could be useful for security patrols or for helping construction companies keep tabs on what's happening at building sites. SpotMini can be customized with attachments and extra software for particular jobs, he said. Eventually, though, the company hopes to sell it for use in people's homes.

61 comments

  1. Robot dog vs Tesla Coil... by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 1

    Robot dogs electronics vs Tesla Coil ... or maybe even a Taser ... should be interesting.

    1. Re: Robot dog vs Tesla Coil... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      A tesla coil likely wouldnâ(TM)t do much due to the skin effect of very high frequency ac. I built one 20 years ago and would play with the arcs with my fingertips. The main problem was the burns from the plasma, but easy to mitigate by wrapping my fingertips in foil.

    2. Re: Robot dog vs Tesla Coil... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow /., down voting actual scientific information vs pseudoscience. What an era.

    3. Re:Robot dog vs Tesla Coil... by rtb61 · · Score: 1

      Technically speaking it is not a robot dog, as it would not have a mouth to pick stuff up but an addition of a body with manipulators added to it, so more a robot centaur. They went with puppy because it does not sound as evil as a robot combat centaur. Yeah you need two arms and hands, one is stupid and pretty pointless apart from demos and mounting them to a vertical torso is more effective than mounting them to a body and that torso has to be over the front legs, not in the centre, it makes approaching a work place easier.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
  2. Attacments by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Like laser guns?

    1. Re:Attacments by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

      Nope. Those are reserved for robot sharks, available in 2026.

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
    2. Re:Attacments by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Old people leash. The dog guides lost elderly into safety. The dog just needs to be made all cute and cuddly.

  3. Re:No robot dogs in prison by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You misspelt Hillary. Also, get a life - not everything is politics jackass.

  4. And so it begins by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metalhead_%28Black_Mirror%29

    1. Re:And so it begins by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

      The robots in that episode were the closest thing to "real science-fiction" I had seen in decades.

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
    2. Re:And so it begins by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      'Metalheads' was good but 'Hated in the Nation' was the one of the best scifi thrillers ever.

  5. Missing out on Military Contracts? by DejaBu · · Score: 2

    Am I the only one wondering why Boston dynamics aren't doubling down on attack robots? Yes I know there is the Terminator (tm) fear, however that's a movie and the reality is these could be excellent in warfare with the right direction/funding.

    1. Re: Missing out on Military Contracts? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      They are... if you notice all the badass predatory animals are absurdly agile. You think they are just making absurdly agile cargo bots?

    2. Re:Missing out on Military Contracts? by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 1

      Am I the only one wondering why Boston dynamics aren't doubling down on attack robots?

      Indeed. Attack robots to keep the masses under control would be way more cost effective than funding UBI. This could be the "killer app".

    3. Re: Missing out on Military Contracts? by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 2

      Of course they are.

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
    4. Re:Missing out on Military Contracts? by ColdWetDog · · Score: 1

      How do you know they're not? Been outside lately?

      We don't get to see the 'real' catalog. That's only for special folks. With their own helicopters and big bank accounts.

      (Hopefully, these mini dogs are as loud as 'Big Dog' which sounded like a Abrams tank. Only good for sneaking up on the deaf folks at the nursing home.)

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
    5. Re:Missing out on Military Contracts? by 110010001000 · · Score: 1

      I am not wondering. These robots look "cool" in YouTube videos, but are ultimately useless.

    6. Re:Missing out on Military Contracts? by Dutch+Gun · · Score: 1

      I think it's because they're still refining very fundamental control, motion, and construction / configuration issues. These can be easily applied to military applications as well as civilian ones. It's really just a matter of context and optional packages. You can't imagine that mini-spot robot doing bomb disposal in a war zone? Or strap a weapon to the end of that arm instead of a hand manipulator to go after an enemy combatant that's holed up in a building? That's an easy conversion to make, I'd wager.

      --
      Irony: Agile development has too much intertia to be abandoned now.
    7. Re:Missing out on Military Contracts? by l0n3s0m3phr34k · · Score: 2

      Several reasons: Because Boston Dynamics is in the business of making commercial, "public" robotics. There are already MUCH larger players in that market. The tech isn't up to the level for a decent ground-based robot that's not treaded. Battery life; noisy engines.

      And, they are working on this. They have developed several robots for DARPA, and DARPA is the one that gives the funding and sets the developmental goals. BD is "doubling down" as much as financially possible, and honestly their tech is only a part of the over-all military robot; they provide the "body" or the chassis. The weapons, any additional code towards autonomy (which still has ROL and ROW hurdles to pass), aren't within BD scope of business. Several DoD contractors usually work together under DARPA to make something this complex battlefield capable. Plus, even if BD makes a bad-ass "war robot" tomorrow, the DoD must still put it through a long and demanding set of testing protocols before using it.

    8. Re:Missing out on Military Contracts? by l0n3s0m3phr34k · · Score: 1

      Cheap drones with explosives have been used several times already. ISIS does it, the Russians in the Ukraine did it, anyone here on Slashdot with less than $2,000 could easily make a "kamikaze drone" even just using re-packed fireworks and homemade thermite. The Phantom 4 can go at least 4 miles, probably further if you hacked the firmware and told it to ignore anything about power for a return trip. ISIS used homemade drones with grenades and other conventional explosives on them. Flying drones are robots too!

    9. Re:Missing out on Military Contracts? by rmdingler · · Score: 1

      I am not wondering. These robots look "cool" in YouTube videos, but are ultimately useless.

      Maybe so. Likely, they're not uploading the videos that show the 'bots tripping over their feet running through the fields.

      Yet, if these early renditions can be this agile for even a few moments, research and development is underway to extend these traits exponentially... as with all new technology.

      --
      Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.

      Ernest Hemingway

  6. Read: Wetwork by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    SpotMini can be customized with attachments and extra software for particular jobs

    Robot says: I may not be able to speak like a human. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired through many upgrades. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. Well even before you saw that video of me running haha.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  7. This is great! by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 2

    I can't wait to be hunted down and killed by this unfeeling machine! ;)

    --
    Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
  8. Shoot on sight by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If i see one of these things lurking around im gonna shoot it first, ask questions later.

    1. Re:Shoot on sight by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

      Why ask any questions at all.

      On the bonus side, if you survive you get a lot of spare parts to make a 3D printer or something!

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
  9. Gives a nice "movie plot" threat! by gweihir · · Score: 1

    Just strap a bomb to this thing and send it wherever you want to do harm!

    Why is this stupid, you ask? Because it will be very easy to trace back to the source of the attack. No self-respecting terrorist will be that stupid.

    --
    Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
    1. Re:Gives a nice "movie plot" threat! by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

      Joke's on you, the terrorists will attach backward paws to the robot so you'll only be able to track it back to the targeted area.

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
    2. Re:Gives a nice "movie plot" threat! by drinkypoo · · Score: 3, Insightful

      What good will it do to track it back to the people it was stolen from?

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    3. Re:Gives a nice "movie plot" threat! by Jeremi · · Score: 2

      I would have said it's stupid because you can get a remote-controlled car (or etc) to do the same thing for about 1% of the price... but if you're flush with cash and really want to capture the public's attention, maybe a $22,000 robot-dog suicide bomber is the way to go.

      --


      I don't care if it's 90,000 hectares. That lake was not my doing.
    4. Re:Gives a nice "movie plot" threat! by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      if you're flush with cash and really want to capture the public's attention, maybe a $22,000 robot-dog suicide bomber is the way to go.

      The robot can go places cars can't, but it doesn't have the range. The obvious answer is to steal both, put one robot inside the other, and send them on a mission together.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    5. Re:Gives a nice "movie plot" threat! by RespekMyAthorati · · Score: 1

      Because it will be very easy to trace back to the source of the attack.

      So what if the enemy can trace it back?
      The "source of the attack" is just the location where the terrorists stored the bot in anticipation of deployment.
      It could have been hiding in a cardboard box for a week.

  10. Re:No robot dogs in prison by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You both misspelt ''American politics are a joke''.

  11. Re:No robot dogs in prison by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    dude, you put Trump behind bars and Pence will come. Pence is much, much worse.

  12. Finally by chispito · · Score: 1

    A truly hypoallergenic dog.

    --
    The Daddy casts sleep on the Baby. The Baby resists!
  13. Re:No robot dogs in prison by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Pence is going to prison also of course.

  14. Mechanical Hound! by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 1

    Wowsers! They're created the Mechanical Hound from Fahrenheit 451! Book-burning optional.

  15. BUT: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    WILL IT RUN WINDOWS XP?

  16. Re: No robot dogs in prison by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No, Pence is going to Heaven, unlike you.

  17. And one year after that... by MindPrison · · Score: 4, Interesting

    ...Chinese clones on eBay costing literally 1000 times less.

    Thanks Boston Dynamics, this is going to be interesting times.

    --
    What this world is coming to - is for you and me to decide.
    1. Re:And one year after that... by magusxxx · · Score: 2

      "We just wanted to confirm Mr. Vick, you want 20 of them?"

      --
      Care killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.
    2. Re:And one year after that... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Laikago comes at about $25k. I don't think SpotMini will cost $25M.

    3. Re:And one year after that... by radarskiy · · Score: 1

      Running dog capitalists, indeed.

  18. Can'twait. by nospam007 · · Score: 2

    So if you spot a mini-spot on your chest, you might be a target of your neighbor's spotmini equipped with a laser-sight gun who opened your backdoor with his hand and thinks you're an intruder.

  19. Nothing to worry about by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I've seen Black Mirror Metalhead, I know exactly how this ends...

  20. I'll buy one by nospam007 · · Score: 2

    just the normal one, with the hand, I'll send it at night to my neighbor's lawn to deposit a bit of dog-shit with his arm.
    Welcome to the 3rd millennium.

  21. Black Mirror - Metalhead by edi_guy · · Score: 1

    What's concerning to me about the Black Mirror franchise is trying to figure out the order in which there near-future scifi will take place. So will the personal social media rating system bring down society suchthat we are running for our lives from metalhead? Or does metalhead come first and after we survive that apocalypse we will find ourselves on stationary bikes trying to earn fifteen million merits?

    1. Re:Black Mirror - Metalhead by l0n3s0m3phr34k · · Score: 1

      Um, it's not in any "order", they are separate stories. It's an anthology, not a serialized show. I'm assuming you wouldn't read a book of short stories and exclaim "None of these chapters make any sense to each other! This is the most random novel ever!"

    2. Re:Black Mirror - Metalhead by magusxxx · · Score: 1

      edit_guy was implying it might be a shared universe like American Horror Story.

      --
      Care killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.
    3. Re:Black Mirror - Metalhead by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It isn't in any order, but that is an interesting question.
      I think were headed for an "all of the above" scenario.

  22. Fukushima by manu0601 · · Score: 1

    I wonder if that kind of robot could help explore the highly radioactive areas of Fukushima Daiichi.

    1. Re:Fukushima by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Fukushima Daiichi's so hot that you can't use glass fiberoptics to communicate with waldos [for very long] because the radiation will turn glass opaque. This thing wouldn't last a day.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  23. Robot dog ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Fuck that. Make some Sex robots FFS.

  24. No by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Radioactive sites mess up hardened electronics after not much time; this isn't even hardened. Go look at how poorly these special machines perform in those situations-- they don't last that long; often dying on site.

  25. That arm needs eyes and fangs by mnemotronic · · Score: 1

    A couple fake eyes painted on and a pair of curved syringes near the front of the gripper. Then give the arm a quick strike motion like a snake. Cobrabot.

    --
    The Russians have won. They have made the world a cesspool of distrust, greed, fear and hate.
  26. When do we get the K-9 version? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I mean, if they're talking about its use as a security robot, it really ought to be capable of using a nose laser to destroy the occasional Dalek. Plus, it might be handy to have a robot dog that is so intelligent that it can beat a Time Lord at chess.

    Downside: When K-9 says "Do you have treats for me, Master?", the only acceptable answer is "Yes".

  27. Spot vs Dot by AndyKron · · Score: 1

    Spot would be more fun than Dot. Alexa? Yes. Go fuck yourself.

  28. A better Dalek by petes_PoV · · Score: 1
    One that can climb stairs.

    But the makers' ideas that it can be used for

    SpotMini robots could be useful for security patrols or for helping construction companies keep tabs on what's happening at building sites

    sounds like a fail. The device doesn't look particularly waterproof - so not much use for security patrols, unless it is limited to inside buildings.

    But worse is that if this thing is expensive, it will become a target for thieves. So rather than preventing crime it could encourage it.

    Now, where's the attachment for the sink-plunger?

    --
    politicians are like babies' nappies: they should both be changed regularly and for the same reasons
  29. Can't wait by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Robo-Puppy: Robo-puppy commencing 2 hour yipping session. Yip, yip, yip, yip, yip, yip...

    [Bender kicks it against the wall, Aibo alarm sounding]

    Robo-Puppy: Robo-puppy mistreatment alert. Robo-puppy mistreatment alert.

  30. I hope this comes with an app by richrz · · Score: 1

    so I can virtually pet Spot and not really have to interact with him IRL. I'm only kind of kiidding...hmm...gonna go write some code...