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Boston Dynamics isn’t saying much about their new robot, Spot, but the video posted to YouTube yesterday speaks volumes. The quadroped is significantly quieter than the company’s previous efforts in this area, and also appears to be faster and more nimble. It easily climbs steep hills, and does not fall over when kicked — even while walking across an icy driveway.
Boston Dynamics has released nothing beyond the video and a scant three sentences of information: “Spot is a four-legged robot designed for indoor and outdoor operation. It is electrically powered and hydraulically actuated. Spot has a sensor head that helps it navigate and negotiate rough terrain. Spot weighs about 160 lbs.”
It also appears to employ a rapidly spinning LIDAR system, mounted on the front end. Such systems are often used for autonomous vehicles, such as Google’s self-driving car. (Google acquired Boston Dynamics in 2013.)
Boston Dynamics has yet to respond to requests for interviews, but we’ll keep you posted on any details as they emerge.
