Boston Dynamics' Robot Dog Spot Now Sees the World in Color, Has 5G, and Uses a Fancy New Controller

Boston Dynamic's robotic quadruped Spot went on sale in the U.S. almost two years ago, but is getting some upgrades to improve the user experience.

Spot is often compared to a dog because of its size, how it walks on four legs, and its past restriction of only being able to view the world in black and white, which is a common misconception about real dogs. It works with cops. With the latest upgrade, the five stereo cameras around Spot's body now capture full color along with improved depth data and sharper images. This will potentially result in slight improvements in Spot's autonomy and will be a welcome upgrade for remote operators, who will finally see the world in color through Spot's eyes.

Boston Dynamics is updating the Spot controller that is used to program autonomously as well as manually maneuver the robot. The controller is based on a larger 8-inch device that has eight hours of battery life, is rugged, and can be used in the rain. The new Spot controller can be further upgraded with an attachment that adds physical buttons and joysticks, making it easier to navigate the robot's movements while also controlling its arm and gripper.

Spot's design makes it particularly useful for industrial and scientific applications, as it can accommodate a wide range of custom payloads, including advanced sensors, upgraded cameras, and laser scanning that can create detailed maps of everywhere it roams.