Boston Dynamics is finally unleashing its robot dog on the world.
The company is now selling Spot to early adopters. The four-legged machine can basically trot around like a canine, and over the years, Boston Dynamics has demonstrated how Spot can walk up stairs, remain standing after being kicked by humans, and even open doors with an attachable arm.
Unfortunately, the product won't be available to consumers. Boston Dynamics is selling Spot to select industries in oil and gas, entertainment, research, in addition to public safety. That may sound disturbing, especially if you've watched Black Mirror. But for now, Boston Dynamics is advertising Spot as a tool law enforcement can use to scout out dangerous situations.
The robot dog is capable of running at 1.6 meters per second (3.5mph), and can operate for 90 minutes on a single battery charge. The machine's battery is swappable, so Spot can easily stay on the go most of the day. Boston Dynamics also built the bot to be sturdy; it can work in temperatures from -4 degrees Fahrenheit to 133 degrees, and is resistant to water and dust.
To navigate, the dog has a 360-degree camera system on board, which can help it avoid obstacles and roam through cluttered areas such as a construction site. In terms of use cases, Boston Dynamics says Spot can help companies remotely inspect their facilities and also help workers carry around payloads.
So what does a robot dog cost? Boston Dynamics is being cagey about price, but customers will be leasing Spot from the company.
"Our general guidance is that the total cost of the early adopter program lease will be less than the price of a car—but how nice a car will depend on the number of Spots leased and how long the customer will be leasing the robot," the company told PCMag. Interested customers can apply on the company's website.