Tossed Salads and Robot Legs - A Curious Phrase

Boston Dynamics' Spot: Expanding Roles and Extraterrestrial Exploration

The evolution of Boston Dynamics from a research-focused entity to a commercial organization presents a compelling case study. Observing the company, alongside its collaborators, determine practical applications for the Spot robot is particularly intriguing. While the technology itself is undeniably impressive, the question of its broader utility beyond its initial design as an off-road carrier has always been central.

Since Spot’s initial release for sale, several interesting use cases have emerged. These include inspection duties in construction zones and potentially hazardous environments – ranging from nuclear facilities to offshore oil platforms. However, some applications have sparked debate, such as Spot’s deployment as an electronic K9 unit for the NYPD.

Perhaps discovering Spot’s ideal role requires a shift in perspective, extending beyond conventional boundaries and even Earth’s gravity. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California has been collaborating with the quadrupedal robot for approximately two years. This partnership began with a DARPA challenge and now explores the potential of utilizing Spot for exploring extraterrestrial caves.

NASA's Collaboration with Boston Dynamics

How long has NASA been working with Spot?

Our engagement with the Spot robots spans roughly two years. We initially integrated our NeBula autonomy and AI solutions onto Spot as part of our participation in the DARPA Subterranean challenge. Subsequently, we’ve broadened the application of these robots and JPL’s NeBula autonomy system to encompass planetary cave exploration, surface exploration, and terrestrial applications like disaster response and mining operations.

What advantages do legs offer over wheels on the Martian surface?

Consider a rugged, roadless terrain on Earth. The ability to walk allows for more effective navigation of diverse terrain features compared to a traditional wheeled vehicle. Similarly, legged locomotion could unlock entirely new mission possibilities when exploring challenging terrains on planets within our solar system.

How closely does NASA/JPL collaborate with a company like Boston Dynamics on a project of this nature?

We enjoy a remarkable collaboration with Boston Dynamics, working in close coordination. On this project, the efforts of JPL and Boston Dynamics are highly complementary. At JPL, we are developing autonomy and AI solutions – known as NeBula – which serve as the robot’s “brain,” enabling fully autonomous exploration of extreme environments with minimal prior knowledge of the terrain or conditions.

NeBula is adaptable to various robotic platforms, including wheeled rovers, legged systems, and drones. Boston Dynamics, conversely, is pioneering advanced robotic locomotion systems that maintain stability in challenging environments. Combining an autonomy solution like NeBula with a capable locomotion system like Spot creates opportunities for entirely new classes of planetary and terrestrial missions.

The Importance of Autonomy

Is it necessary for these robots to operate without human intervention?

Yes, autonomy is the primary focus of our project. In planetary exploration, particularly when investigating underground caves, there is little to no prior environmental information available. Furthermore, once robots enter a cave, they typically lose communication with the surface and must operate independently to achieve mission objectives.

Therefore, autonomy is a critical capability for enabling missions to accomplish their goals without human intervention when exploring previously uncharted terrains and environments. To this end, JPL has been developing autonomy and AI solutions (NeBula) that are now being paired with Boston Dynamics Spot robots.

Beyond Planetary Exploration: Drone Deliveries and Robotic Assistance

Shifting focus to more terrestrial applications, Alphabet’s Wing has announced it is nearing 100,000 drone deliveries, two years after launching services in Logan, Australia. This announcement comes amidst reports of challenges faced by Amazon in the drone delivery sector.

According to Wing, they anticipate launching new services in Australia, Finland, and the United States within the next six months. The company notes that the technology’s capabilities currently exceed existing regulatory approvals.

A breakdown of some of those 100,000 deliveries includes:

• 10,000 cups of coffee
• 1,700 children’s snack packs
• 1,200 hot chooks (roasted chicken, in Australian)
• 2,700 sushi rolls
• 1,000 loaves of bread

LA-based Coco recently secured $36 million in funding for its delivery robots, bringing its total funding to $43 million. The UCLA spinout is currently piloting its 50-pound, remotely-piloted robots in various Los Angeles neighborhoods.

Furthermore, Sweetgreens, a California-based fast-casual salad chain, has acquired Spyce. Developed by MIT alumni, Spyce specializes in kitchen robotics, which has been implemented in two Boston-based restaurants. Sweetgreens intends to integrate these robots into some of its 120+ locations, though a specific timeline remains undefined.

A Ray of Hope and a Note of Caution

In uplifting news, a team of young female roboticists successfully evacuated Kabul following the Taliban takeover. The team has found refuge in Mexico with a 180-day humanitarian visa, with the possibility of extension.

“From now on forward we will have opportunities for many more achievements in our lives, and thus be part of the fight for a better life,” stated team member Fatemah Qaderyan upon their arrival in Mexico. “Although we are far from our homes, we will always be united and thanks to your help we will achieve it, thank you very much, we really appreciate having all our things here in Mexico with us.”

The team previously gained international attention in 2017 when they entered the U.S. on a 10-day “parole,” despite the Trump administration’s executive order restricting entry from predominantly Muslim countries.

Finally, a cautionary note regarding the hype surrounding robots like the Tesla robot. It’s important to recognize that public perception often exceeds current technological capabilities. The development of even seemingly simple robots, like the Roomba, has proven challenging. Therefore, it’s crucial to approach announcements of advanced robots with a degree of skepticism.

It’s essential to remember that expectations should be tempered. Sometimes, what is presented as a cutting-edge robot is simply a person in a costume demonstrating a concept.