Boston Dynamics' Robot Had Some Demonstration Issues At The Re:MARS Conference

At the recent re:MARS conference, Boston Dynamics had some problems with the demonstration of Spot, their four-legged robot. The robot behaved well in the beginning; however, it got a little bit overwhelmed and then fell flat on its face. You may find Spot familiar as it is the one freaking us with its ability to open a door in February 2018.

Boston Dynamics was also the one making the backflipping robot. These demonstrations suggest the bright future of robotics. Over the last few years, we have seen many great demonstrations of futuristic robots. This year, Spot marks another big step forward for Boston Dynamics.

Although Spot is for sale, the sale date has not been revealed. According to a spokesperson, Spot’s commercial version will be released in the next few months. The company is now testing the robot carefully in some “proof-of-concept” environments like surveying work and package delivery.

Most of the robots from Boston Dynamics need to be controlled by humans with a modified gaming handset. The robot can only move autonomously in environments which have already been mapped.

At the conference, there were some lucky attendees having the chance to control the robots with the handset. To control the robot requires little training or experience, which is a selling advantage for Spot considering it is marketed by the company as a “mobility platform”. It means that the robot can perform a variety of functions and tasks instead of repetitive actions.

Once Spot is fitted with a wide range of equipment, its function will be enhanced. For example, it is able to map environments like developments or worksites with mounted 3D cameras. In addition, it can open doors and manipulate objects with an attached robotic arm.

Founded in 1992 as a spin-off of MIT, Boston Dynamics has become one of the robotics industry’s leaders after over 20 years. Google acquired it in 2013 and sold it to SoftBank Group of Japan last year. The sum was not revealed.