boston dynamics employs a pack of robot dogs to tow this huge truck

robotics company boston dynamics has demonstrated the strength of their spotmini robots by using ten of the dog-like devices to haul a box truck across the company’s parking lot. demonstrated in a video posted on youtube on tuesday, the pack of robot dogs can be seen pulling a large box van with ease.

images courtesy of boston dynamics

the spotmini is a four-legged robot that handles objects, climbs stairs and is capable of working in office, home and outdoor settings. it can carry about 31 pounds, weighs about 66 pounds and stands at just 2.6 feet. the machine can run up to 90 minutes, has 3D vision camera and a suite of sensors for navigation and mobile manipulation. according to boston dynamics‘ it is the quietest machine it has ever built.

‘it only takes 10 spotpower (SP) to haul a truck across the boston dynamics parking lot (~1 degree uphill, truck in neutral),‘ the company wrote in the description for the video. ‘these spot robots are coming off the production line now and will be available for a range of applications soon.‘ last may, the company’s president, marc raibert, said spotmini robots should be ready for sale this year.

the video is one in a long line of documentation boasting the abilities of the company’s robots. just last month boston dynamics unveiled an ostrich-inspired robot with wheel-legged movement intended for use in warehouses. in november 2018 it revealed a spotmini with a pair of 3D printed bionic arms.

project info

company: boston dynamics

product: spotmini

type: robots