Boston Dynamics has started
selling its four-legged Spot robot, but you probably won’t be able to get your
hands on one-yet. The company is only going to sell the robot to companies that
can put it to practical use and develop custom modules that can be attached to
its back to help perform specific tasks. It’s the reverse of the traditional
sales process: firms need to send pitches to Boston Dynamics, which it will
then assess them for suitability.
Boston Dynamics only has 20 of
the robots available right now, but it’s hoping to manufacture about 1,000 for
use out in the field. So it has to be very choosy about who gets one. It hasn’t
disclosed how much they will cost. Spot could check for gas leaks using methane
sensors, map the interior of a building with a lidar module, or even open doors
using its arm. The robot is designed to withstand rain, so it can work
outdoors, too.
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