{"id":23977,"date":"2018-02-13T16:42:21","date_gmt":"2018-02-13T16:42:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/uncategorized\/2018\/02\/13\/watch-boston-dynamics-robot-open-the-door-to-military-capabilities-literally\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T18:20:04","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T18:20:04","slug":"watch-boston-dynamics-robot-open-the-door-to-military-capabilities-literally","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/industry\/2018\/02\/13\/watch-boston-dynamics-robot-open-the-door-to-military-capabilities-literally\/","title":{"rendered":"Watch Boston Dynamics’ robot open the door to military capabilities … literally"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A new video from robotics firm Boston Dynamics shows that the company\u2019s newly updated SpotMini can officially open doors \u2026 with its head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the video, a SpotMini extends a head-mounted arm attachment to open a door and hold it with its jaw, allowing for a second SpotMini to trot through. After its friend has cleared the doorway, the courteous door-holding robot follows as the door shuts softly behind it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With over 1 million views in under a day, \u201cHey Buddy, Can You Give Me a Hand?\u201d is currently the #1 trending video on YouTube. Given its implications for the defense community, military technology heads are likely taking notice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Four-legged machines like the SpotMini could offer serious near-future capabilities to the military, as detailed by Kelsey Atherton in C4ISRNET<\/a>. The SpotMini\u2019s animal-inspired features and increasingly agile abilities could offer a glimpse at the kind of robots that might soon accompany squads into the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Picture a camouflaged version of this robotic quadruped taking point, opening doors, peeking around corners and using infrared vision to detect threats and alert its unit of dangers that lie ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 55 pounds (66 pounds with the arm attachment) all-electric SpotMini uses advanced perception sensors to navigate multiple terrains and pick up objects. Those sensors include \u201cstereo cameras, depth cameras, an IMU, and position\/force sensors in the limbs,\u201d according to Boston Dynamics\u2019 website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The SpotMini is the smaller and nimbler version of Boston Dynamics\u2019 large robot dog, Spot, which was unveiled in 2015.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The SpotMini is proving that the thumb may not actually be the essential feature protecting humans from our future robot overlords. Perhaps it was just the door. <\/p>\n\n\n\n