Boston Dynamics robot dog opens door and holds it open for robot with no arms
SpotMini, the quietest robot the company has built, is also capable of climbing stairs and doing the washing up
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Boston Dynamics’ robot dog can now open doors.
The company has posted a new video that shows SpotMini, a small, four-legged robot, approach a closed door, twist its handle, pull it open and hold it there to allow another robot through.
It then follows right behind, and the door swings shut behind them.
The dog-like robot pulls off the trick using an arm that sticks out of its head.
It’s an impressive feat and the video has, unsurprisingly, sparked discussions about how advanced robots are becoming, and raised concerns about what the future could hold for humans.
SpotMini, the quietest robot Boston Dynamics has built, is also capable of handling objects, climbing stairs and doing the washing up.
It weighs 30kg with its arm attached, can carry 14kg of weight.
It also comes equipped with stereo cameras, depth cameras and position/force sensors in its limbs, which “help with navigation and mobile manipulation”.
The door video is the latest in a long line of viral clips created and released by Boston Dynamics.
In November, it posted footage of Atlas, its humanoid robot, executing a perfect backflip and landing securely on its feet.
However, as the final part of that video shows, it can’t always pull the move off successfully.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments