Unveiled in 2016, Spot has come a long way since its inception. A simple software update now makes it capable of performing much more advanced visual, thermal and acoustic inspections. Spot can, for example, view and compare temperatures across an entire photo, with the ability to set alerts for stark differences between multiple areas.
Acoustic imaging is able to detect any change in the sound signatures, which makes it possible to anticipate certain machine breakdowns. On the hardware side, Spot now has an audible (speaker) and visual (lights around the body) signaling system, as well as an emergency stop button for added safety.
In terms of behavior, Spot is now able to adapt its pace according to the state of the ground, whether it is wet or tricky. He can also find his balance more easily if he slips. Thanks to a lidar (laser sensor) placed on his back, he can also detect movements, whether people or machines moving near him. From then on, he automatically keeps his distance. Finally, Spot can now open a door, independently, without human assistance, thanks to its dedicated arm. Until now, he needed the help of a remote operator. Now he can do it alone, in rounds for example.
A robot to perform dangerous tasks
Spot will therefore make itself even more useful than it is today, when it is already used by many companies for tasks often considered difficult, even dangerous, for men. Today, more than a thousand robots are in operation in 35 countries.
Spot is for example used in the surveillance and maintenance of sensitive areas such as airports, warehouses, power stations, military sites, etc. It can detect intrusions, perform security rounds during which it transmits information in real time. Hyundai, BP and even the RATP are already customers on sensitive sites.
But Spot can also help law enforcement with surveillance missions in potentially dangerous environments. In some hospitals, the robot dog is also used to deliver equipment, medicine or food to patients.
Finally, it also intervenes in the event of natural disasters or industrial accidents to assess the dangerousness of the situation and search for possible survivors. He also explores the ruins of Pompeii in search of new remains, while NASA hopes one day to be able to send him to Mars to closely study the red planet.