The ‘Robot Dog’ From Boston Dynamics Is Now Being Taught to Fight Humans
This sounds like a good idea.
On its website, Boston Dynamics describes SpotMini as a “nimble robot that handles objects, climbs stairs, and will operate in offices, homes and outdoors.”
It’s true, SpotMini can do some cool stuff, like fetch your beer. As new video from the robot makers demonstrates, it will also fight you.
The video speaks for itself, and presents a contrary image to the idea of a perky, dancing four-legged electronic pal ready to bring you a cold one. No, here SpotMini is trying to open a door.
Its cleverness in doing the task would be unsettling enough.
When the guy with the hockey stick decides to mess with the poochy terminator, SpotMini simply dodges it and keeps trying to complete its task—with fluid ease. Then the guy tries to hold the door shut, and that’s not happening. The machine will complete its job.
The human handler then tries pulling on a leash to restrain the robot. That doesn’t work, because SpotMini is ready to lose parts to pursue its mission.
And it wins.
The Boston Dynamics caption states that it was an attempt to challenge “SpotMini’s ability to adjust to disturbances as it opens and walks through a door.”
Take in the machine’s ability to resist human interference with the video above, in which two SpotMinis cooperate to open a door and pass through.
The robot uprising is closer than we think.
h/t Guardian
Read This Next
