Hyundai Motor Group just announced in a press release stating that Boston Dynamics’ infamous Spot robot dog will be a ‘Factory Safety Service Robot’ in a South Korean Kia plant. They have also released a YouTube video showing the robot in action, which you can watch below.
For those who are confused, Hyundai is actually a parent company to both Kia and Boston Dynamics, the latter being acquired by Hyundai just this year.
So what exactly is this robot dog and how does it work? The ‘Factory Safety Service Robot’, or ‘the Robot’ for short, is a modded version of Boston Dynamics’ Spot. It’s specifically designed to do security operations in production plants and industrial sites.
With a thermal camera, a 3D LiDAR sensor, and a powerful AI processing service unit, the Robot can detect people as well as monitor high-temperature situations. With these sensors, the Robot can also detect if a door is open or closed and can fit through narrow, dark places. These jobs can be very difficult and dangerous to do as a human.
The Robot’s path can be controlled both manually and autonomously, and the security footage it captures acts like a regular smart security camera. Factory managers can view the live stream at any time and will receive an alert whenever the Robot finds a safety issue.
Head of Hyundai’s Robotics Lab Dong Jin Hyun had this to say in a statement. “The Robot will help detect risks and secure people’s safety in industrial sites.” He then continued, “We will also continue to create smart services that detect dangers at industrial sites and help support a safe work environment through continuous collaborations with Boston Dynamics.”
Boston Dynamics has been trying hard to change society’s opinion on their robots. After working with the NYPD and the French army, they received a lot of backlash. All of that is in the past though, because look how cute Spot is dancing with BTS!
This ‘Factory Safety Service’ job does seem appropriate for the robot, so as long as it doesn’t learn how to pick up knives, I think we’ll be okay.
