Spot the Dog could be under your tree this year! Boston Dynamics releases a festive video showing its four-legged robot hiding in a Christmas present
- The robotics firm posted the quirky little video on their Twitter feed yesterday
- Spot’s legs appear from underneath the present, which jauntily trots offscreen
- Reaction on Twitter was somewhat mixed, however. Some thought it was cute
- Others, in contrast, did not like the idea of Spot being camouflaged in any way
- Military and policing applications of such robots are a controversial issue
Imagine if — perhaps fed up of being shaken and squeezed by curious recipients — Christmas presents had the habit of rising on spindly legs and trotting off elsewhere.
This is the simultaneously comic yet oddly unsettling spectacle played out in Boston Dynamic’s freshly released festive video that stars their iconic robot dog, Spot.
Initially completely covered by a large, beautifully-wrapped gift box, the mechanical mutt stands up and sedately saunters offscreen — visible only via its legs as it leaves.
The surreal visuals are reinforced by a quirky version of ‘Jingle Bells’, although one is sure that the end message — ‘Happy Holidays’ — is quite sincerely meant.
Scroll down for videos
Imagine if — perhaps fed up of being shaken and squeezed by curious recipients — Christmas presents had the habit of rising on spindly legs and trotting off elsewhere. This is the simultaneously comic yet oddly unsettling spectacle played out in Boston Dynamic’s freshly released festive video (pictured) that stars their iconic robot dog, Spot
Initially completely covered by a large, beautifully-wrapped gift box (as pictured), the mechanical mutt stands up and saunters offscreen — visible only via its legs as it leaves
Pictured: some users were curious as to how Spot worked within the box. Others made puns
Boston Dynamics posted the bizarre little clip onto twitter yesterday.
‘Happy holidays and many thanks to everyone who helped drive Spot’s success this year!,’ the robotics firm tweeted.
‘We’re excited to see where you can take our robots in 2022.’
Not everyone, however, seemed excited by to see Spot hiding in the first place.
‘No, no, no camouflaged robots please,’ responded Twitter user @ReaderCatMe.
‘You can’t pretend these are lovable robot dogs when other companies literally copied your designs and your work to make killer robots for armed forces.
‘Great job,’ she concluded.
While Boston Dynamics have long balked at the notion of equipping their robots with offensive weaponry — even just a paintball gun — many of their competition do not have such qualms at all.
Not everyone, however, seemed excited by to see Spot hiding in the first place. ‘No, no, no camouflaged robots please,’ responded Twitter user @ReaderCatMe. ‘You can’t pretend these are lovable robot dogs when other companies literally copied your designs and your work to make killer robots for armed forces. Great job’
Other social media users were more taken with the festive video. ‘Can we please get another fun dance routine this year?’ asked @shira_dinal
Other social media users were more taken with the festive video.
‘This is how All Boston Dynamics Spots should be delivered!’ wrote Twitter user @Oscarwi99794587.
‘Can we please get another fun dance routine this year?’ asked @shira_dinal.
Other posters — @isobeard and @Wonziu, specifically — noted that Spot looked like the ‘Metal Gear’ video game series character Snake hiding under a cardboard box to sneak his way past armed guards.
BOSTON DYNAMICS’ SPOT
Boston Dynamics first showed off Spot, the most advanced robot dog ever created, in a video posted in November 2017.
The firm, best known for Atlas, its 5 foot 9 (1.7 metre) humanoid robot, has revealed a new ‘lightweight’ version of its robot Spot.
The robotic canine was shown trotting around a yard, with the promise that more information from the notoriously secretive firm is ‘coming soon’.
‘Spot is a small four-legged robot that comfortably fits in an office or home’ the firm says on its website.
It weighs 25 kg (55 lb), or 30 kg (66 lb) when you include the robotic arm.
Spot is all-electric and can go for about 90 minutes on a charge, depending on what it is doing, the firm says, boasting ‘Spot is the quietest robot we have built.’
Spot was first unveiled in 2016, and a previous version of the mini version of spot with a strange extendable neck has been shown off helping around the house.
In the firm’s previous video, the robot is shown walking out of the firm’s HQ and into what appears to be a home.
There, it helps load a dishwasher and carries a can to the trash.
It also at one point encounters a dropped banana skin and falls dramatically – but uses its extendable neck to push itself back up.
‘Spot is one of the quietest robots we have ever built, the firm says, due to its electric motors.
‘It has a variety of sensors, including depth cameras, a solid state gyro (IMU) and proprioception sensors in the limbs.
‘These sensors help with navigation and mobile manipulation.
‘Spot performs some tasks autonomously, but often uses a human for high-level guidance.’
Source: Read Full Article
