ALMOST two years after it officially went on sale in the U.S. for “commercial and industrial use,” Boston Dynamic’s robotic quadruped Spot is getting some upgrades that are mostly designed to improve the user experience for those behind the robot’s controls. Spot is most 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 (a common misconception about real dogs) and also because it often works alongside cops. But with the latest upgrade, the five stereo cameras around Spot’s body, used to map its surroundings in 3D, 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 also upgrading the Spot tablet controller that is used to both manually maneuver the robot as well as program autonomous routes and tasks. The controller is now based on a Samsung tablet with a larger 8-inch touchscreen that boasts eight hours of battery life and improved ruggedness, drop protection, and weatherproofing, allowing it to be used in the rain if needed. And for Spot owners who’ve opted for the articulated Spot Arm, the new Spot tablet controller can be further upgraded with an attachment that adds physical joysticks and buttons, making it easier to navigate the robot’s movements while also controlling its arm and gripper. (SD-Agencies) | 