There are some who say a robot apocalypse is just fear mongering. ‘Humans will control the robots,’ you say. Wait till you see this.
Last week Boston Dynamics showed the SpotMini robot dog opening a door. Now, the company has shown what happens when you try to stop the SpotMini from doing so. You simply can’t.
The researcher working with the SpotMini tried to halt its progress with an ice hockey stick, and also tried to pull the robot back with a leash.
During this fitting demonstration of robustness, a panel from the SpotMini breaks and falls away, but the robot simply kicks it away and continues jostling with the researcher. After our human gives up, it walks towards the door and opens it to go through.
The video description reads that this was a test to show SpotMini’s ability to adjust to disturbances as it opens and walks through a door. It further reads that the ability to tolerate and respond to disturbances like these improves the successful operation of the robot. Lastly, there is disclaimer that reads,
“Note: This testing does not irritate or harm the robot.”
And I say, yeah sure. Tell that to the dog when he is using its arm to choke you in few years.
