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Boston Dynamics' Robot Dog will be available [for purchase] next year

signal

signal

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Oct 28, 2017
40,466
Wired

Boston Dynamics is real close to pushing SpotMini into the real world, only this time without using hockey sticks.

It's been a hell of a two days for Boston Dynamics' fantastical quadruped robot SpotMini. Yesterday, it starred in a new video that may seem, well, a bit ho-hum at first glance—at least compared to the company's other recent reveals. The robot doesn't open doors for its friends or fight off a human assailant brandishing a hockey stick. It simply traipses down corridors, through doorways, and up a staircase. Yet within that short journey lies a tantalizing detail about SpotMini the robot dog.
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Boston Dynamics founder Marc Raibert followed that up today at the TechCrunch Sessions: Robotics conference at UC Berkeley with surprising news for the secretive company: SpotMini is coming to market, and soon. The company is planning to build 100 units later this year.
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"That's the prelude to getting them into a higher rate production," Raibert said on stage, "which we hope to start about the middle of next year." He declined to disclose the price, but did say the machine in the most recent video is about 10 times cheaper to produce than a previous iteration. "And we think we can go further," Raibert said.
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Boston Dynamics has long been research-focused, but that doesn't mean it hasn't been thinking about what consumers want out of SpotMini. For one, buyers will be able to mount their own hardware on SpotMini's back, Raibert said. Boston Dynamics is also working on its own add-on packages. "For instance, we have a surveillance package where we have special cameras that can mount on the back," he said. And that famous arm that helped the robot open the door for its friend? That's an extra option that'll be removable.
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starpower

starpower

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tenor.gif
 

Deleted member 8579

Oct 26, 2017
33,843
With the claw, yes.

For one, buyers will be able to mount their own hardware.

I beg your pardon.
 

cnorwood

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Oct 28, 2017
3,361
In after terminator and evil ai posts. I wonder how many people realize those are movies
 
Mario

Mario

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Oct 26, 2017
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That thing looks so creepy.I can't imagine who would want to have a thing like that in their house.
 

Deleted member 5359

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Oct 25, 2017
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Has a lot of potential for helping the elderly with things like carrying heavy items.

Would be cool to have one when I go hiking, too.
 
Jack Scofield

Jack Scofield

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Oct 27, 2017
1,480
What does it even do? It's cool tech, no doubt, but I'm struggling to think of what a consumer can do with this thing.
 
Nazo

Nazo

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Oct 25, 2017
2,855
So how long till somebody records themselves fucking the poor thing...

:(
 

Deleted member 6949

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I want to get one just to put the fear into my cats. I feel like the balance of power has shifted out of my favor.
 

Deffers

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Mar 4, 2018
2,402
Oh sweet! I was hoping to get a close look at one of these things in my lifetime.

Of course, given the fact that the price for a single robotic arm for the small business and prosumer market can be $1500 to $4000... don't, uh... expect to be able to afford one of these sweeties. I like walking and hiking a lot so a semi-autonomous pack mule is exactly my kinda jam. I don't think the battery life is big enough for that but hey, you never know.

EDIT: Lasts about 90 minutes, with a 14 kilogram payload. 9 kg if you include the arm. I'd have to see the size of the battery pack to see if that's remotely feasible.
 
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