Boston Dynamics’ Robots Learn Cooperation

Boston Dynamics Company has posted a video where a SpotMini robot helps another one to open the door. SpotMini is the Company’ four-legged robot that looks like a dog. The first test videos showed a robot...

Boston Dynamics Company has posted a video where a SpotMini robot helps another one to open the door.

SpotMini is the Company’ four-legged robot that looks like a dog. The first test videos showed a robot with a folding arm at the front end of the body. The fifth extremity functions as a manipulator also helping to maintain the equilibrium or stand up after a fall.

In November 2017 the Company issued SpotMini’s new version. The robot got a graceful yellow body and his movements became more smooth and precise. The updated version was not fitted out with a manipulator.

In the new video, the Boston Dynamics robot comes across an obstacle – it needs to turn the handle in order to open the door. Help comes from another latest-version robot, again fitted out with a manipulator. It turns the door handle, holds the door with its leg and after letting the first robot in, passes through the door itself.

In each new video Boston Dynamics has tried to impress everyone with its achievements. In the previous video Atlas - a man-like robot - does a back summersault. Now Robots have learnt to help each other.

Though externally SpotMini robots look like those in the Black Mirror series, one can hardly call them intimidating. Perhaps, because of the body’s yellow colour.

The Company’s first robots, powered by internal combustion engines, were geared to military purposes. Up-to-date models use electricity and become increasingly sleek and dexterous, while the Boston Dynamics’ engineers work to expand the robots’ application areas.

Since its founding in 1992, Boston Dynamics has developed a number of four-legged robots of various sizes (BigDog, CHEETAH, LittleDog and SpotMini), two anthropomorphous ones (PETMAN и Atlas) and RiSE – a tiny six-legged robot that can climb vertical surfaces. Handle – the Company’s one more model moves thanks to the wheels on its hind legs.