Normal dogs go from being cute little puppers to big doggos as they get older, but our favorite robot dog Spot is very different (and not just because he doesn’t have a head). Every time we see him “grow up,” he gets smaller. But he’s also starting to resemble a real dog more and more.
The robotic company Boston Dynamics just released a short teaser video of their new “SpotMini,” a much tinier, much sleeker model of their little four-legged machine. Spot’s body and legs aren’t nearly as clunky as they used to be, and that allows it to move with a lot more grace than previous iterations. And even though he still doesn’t have a head, the more realistic movements, like when he looks right at the camera, gives him the feel of being more like the real animal.
The way SpotMini looks and moves is right on the line between adorable and terrifying. Like, I absolutely want one, but I wouldn’t be totally stunned if it killed me either.
You can really appreciate the advancements the company has made in creating a realistic robo-dog by comparing this model to the past versions we’ve told you about. Those were always great feats of engineering, but SpotMini looks light years ahead of those. And the more sophisticated the movements and the better the turning radius, the more helpful these machines will be.
So how did they do it? They aren’t saying just yet. The only message Boston Dynamics included with the video was this: “For more information . . . stay tuned.” And we will, because we’d love to know how Spot has grown up so fast, even if though that has meant getting smaller and smaller.
How would you describe SpotMini? Would you want your own robot dog? Take a bite out of our comments below with your thoughts.
Images: Boston Dynamics
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