Introduction
I recently had the chance to test out one of Google’s new Spot robots for a week. Spot is a four-legged robot dog built by Boston Dynamics and designed for a variety of industrial uses. My first impressions of Spot after a week of hands-on testing were overwhelmingly positive. In this article, I’ll provide an in-depth look at my experiences with Spot and share my thoughts on where this technology seems to be headed.
Unboxing and First Interactions
When I first unboxed Spot, I was struck by how lifelike the robot appeared. With four articulated legs, a sensor head that can turn in any direction, and smooth hydraulic movements, Spot resembles a real dog in many ways. However, the exposed mechanical components on the legs and body remind you that this is firmly in robot territory.
Powering on and initializing Spot for the first time was simple enough thanks to the detailed instructions provided by Google. The robot calibrates its legs and sensors, then waits for input. Interacting with Spot is accomplished through either a mobile app or web interface connected over WiFi. Commands can be sent to make Spot walk, turn, take photos with its onboard cameras, and more.
My first impressions of directing Spot around were very positive. The bipedal walking motion is extremely smooth and stable. The robot effortlessly handles transitions between carpet, tile, grass, etc. Spot turns in place gracefully and has omnidirectional movement capabilities.
Remote Inspection and Mapping
One of the key capabilities Spot excels at is remote inspection and mapping. Using the mobile app, I was able to drive Spot through various environments and see real-time video from its front-facing camera stream. Spot maintains a very stable video feed while walking, climbing stairs, and transitioning between surfaces.
I tested Spot’s mapping capabilities by directing it through our office space and having it generate a 2D floor map. The map it produced was surprisingly accurate, correctly locating walls, doors, cubicles, and other landmarks. Driving Spot remotely through the map after creation was extremely intuitive, making it easy to revisit specific locations.
Autonomous Navigation
In addition to remote control, Spot also has impressive built-in autonomous navigation skills. After manually driving Spot through an area once and having it map the space, I was able to set waypoints for it to travel between autonomously.
For example, I had Spot map my house, then I set a waypoint in the kitchen and another in the living room. Spot was able to seamlessly navigate between the two waypoints multiple times without any human input, avoiding obstacles along the way. The autonomous driving capabilities took me by surprise with their reliability.
Use Cases and Customizations
It’s clear that Spot has versatile base capabilities that make it appealing for a range of industrial, commercial, and government applications. During my testing, I could see many possible use cases emerging:
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Remote inspections – Safely inspect hazardous environments like mines, offshore platforms, chemical facilities, construction sites, etc.
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Disaster response – Use Spot’s cameras and autonomy to search collapsed or unsafe structures for survivors after disasters.
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Security and surveillance – Leverage Spot’s mobility and cameras for security patrols and surveillance monitoring.
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Mapping – Have Spot autonomously map spaces like warehouses, stores, offices, etc. to generate usable floor plans.
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Last mile delivery – Outfit Spot with a cargo bay for small package delivery from warehouses to final destinations.
Google is also offering various customization and integration options for companies and developers. You can outfit Spot with specific sensors, mount payloads to the back, and integrate software solutions using the available SDK. This will allow the robot to take on even more specialized roles over time.
Future Outlook
After spending a week testing Google’s new Spot, I’m very optimistic about the future capabilities of quadruped robots. Spot already has an impressive degree of mobility and autonomy straight out of the box. And Google seems committed to steadily improving the platform and expanding its functionality over time through updates.
The cost of the robot will be a limiting factor for mainstream consumer adoption in the near term. But for companies and government agencies with budgets, Spot presents a versatile robotics platform ready to take on important real-world tasks. If the progress I’ve already seen in just a week is any indication, this technology will only get more robust and capable as Google continues development.
Conclusion
My first impressions of the new Spot robot from Google were overwhelmingly positive. After spending a week testing Spot in various environments and use cases, I was very impressed with its smooth omnidirectional walking capabilities, sturdy build quality, advanced autonomous navigation, and versatile camera sensors. While the cost is currently prohibitive for mainstream consumers, Spot presents an exciting and rapidly evolving platform for industrial, commercial, and government applications. I’m eager to see how Google continues advancing quadruped robots like Spot in the years ahead as this emerging technology realizes its full potential.
