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The smart robot dog is a technological innovation that has been drawing attention, and whose application is expanding in different areas. The idea behind it is to provide a kind of automatic inspector, capable of exploring different regions while capturing data. A smart robot dog is a mobile robot, with the ability to walk on different terrains with high mobility, allowing for automatic and routine inspection, as well as capturing and recording data in a safe, precise, and frequent manner. They possess diverse characteristics, which can be complemented with systems and different tools, making them even more attractive and useful. The technology that enables their functioning is not something new, but it is undergoing continuous evolution. These robotic dogs are very agile and highly responsive, completing different tasks quickly. Another objective, furthermore, is that they perform tasks that are too dangerous, or even impossible for humans. If you want to know more about the technologies that accompany the phenomenon of robot dogs, I invite you to read this entire article! READ MORE • Robots with artificial intelligence: an ethical discussion?
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The smart robot dog and its characteristics
The most famous smart robot dog is the one from Boston Dynamics, a robotics engineering company in the United States. Its name is Spot. This robot dog has several characteristics that make it interesting, such as: • Strength and control: Spot is capable of carrying up to 14 kg of inspection equipment. In addition, its control is simple, making it possible to control the robot from a distance using an intuitive tablet app and built-in stereo cameras.
• Intelligence: the robot allows the programming of autonomous and repetitive missions, ensuring the consistency of the collected data;
• 360º Perception: use of 360-degree perception to map the terrain and avoid obstacles as they appear;
• Dynamic Balance: the robot can balance itself in different environments, even with a payload of up to 14 kg;
• Mobility: the Spot robot dog can move over stairs, grass, loose gravel, and curbs;
• Pre-built Solutions: it is possible to use pre-built solutions from an existing network of third-party software and hardware providers;
• Attachment and Integration: attachment and integration of unique external hardware using mounting rails and payload ports.
• SDK: use of the Software Development Kit (SDK) to create customized controls, program autonomous missions, and integrate sensor inputs into data analysis tools.
Industries where the smart robot dog can work
The smart robot dog, Spot, can also work in different industries. In fact, this is one of the main applications of robot dogs: contributing to solving problems in the human sphere, which includes industrial work. Let's look at the examples: • Manufacturing: Spot can perform autonomous inspections, or even create digital twins of plants before a rework;
• Construction: inspecting progress at construction sites and autonomously comparing as-built conditions with Building Information Modeling (BIM);
• Power: autonomous routines that remotely steer the robot through inspections in electrified or high-radiation areas;
• Research: Spot can be integrated with sensors and software to develop applications in the industry;
• Mining: routine route inspections in tunnels, with the ability to carry important measurement tools, ensuring safe working conditions;
• Oil & gas: Spot performs autonomous routines where the robot can be steered to inspect installations, enhancing operational awareness of the plant;
• Public safety: Spot can be used to monitor hazardous situations, as well as inspect dangerous objects from a distance;
• Entertainment: the robot can have its movements programmed, creating poses, acting as an assistant in various performances.
Applications of the intelligent robot dog in industry
The intelligent robot dog has different applications in industry, being very versatile. That is, let's see here a series of practices that the robot dog can do and directly help in industrial activity. Examples: • Thermal inspection: Spot can be equipped with a thermal camera, the Spot CAM+IR, to detect problems in machines or electrical conductors;
• Meter reading: with the use of Spot CAM+, it is possible to collect color images and read analog pressure, flow, temperature meters, among other factors, as well as a 30x zoom that inspects the meters from a distance;
• Site documentation: by integrating Spot with a 360-degree camera and site documentation software, it is possible to reduce the time required to capture data and increase employee productivity in documenting and managing progress at a given workplace;
• Radiation: Spot can be equipped with a radiation sensor that detects dangerous levels in nuclear reactors or sites where disasters have occurred;
• Leak detection: by adding processing to the images collected by the Spot CAM+ payload, it is possible to detect water and steam leaks around plants and observe equipment with degraded performance;
• Anomalous noise detection: by equipping Spot with a microphone, or using the one from Spot CAM+, it is possible to detect abnormal noises in operations, such as humming, ticking, or grinding;
• Tunnel inspection: Spot can be used for remote inspection of tunnels, looking for cracks or unstable conditions, ensuring the safety of workers;
• Gas detection: it is possible to equip Spot with gas sensors, which detect dangerous leaks early enough not to put animals or humans at risk.
Conclusion
The smart robot dog has many functions and applications, being able to serve as an important assistant in the industry. Its versatility makes it suitable for performing different types of tasks, in varied areas, autonomously, accurately, and safely, going to places where humans cannot go. Its creation is one of many demonstrations that technology in Industry 4.0 is advancing more and more, contributing to human activity and its interests and goals. Even if Pix Force does not produce robot dogs yet, artificial intelligence, computer vision, and deep learning technologies are present in our solutions. If your company needs help, get in touch.
Fabio Caraça
Fábio Caraça is the Chief Growth Officer at Pix Force. He leads Pix Force's transformation into a scalable SaaS operation, combining strategic vision, culture, and high-impact execution.
