Spot, the robot dog from Boston Dynamics, has captured the hearts and minds of many throughout not only the world, but even the construction industry over the past several months. It’s fully autonomous and able to maneuver around tough jobsite conditions and stairs, which allows it to wander your jobsite capturing data with little to no effort. Now, it’s available for anyone to purchase.
In the fall of last year, Boston Dynamics allowed their robotic dog to be leased on a trial basis to certain businesses in key industries with compelling use cases, like construction. At that time, pricing was not released, but it was rumored to cost as much as a luxury vehicle. Well the secret is out and just one of the robots will cost you $74,500.
In addition to the robot itself, Boston Dynamics has also released many different “payload options” or attachments to make Spot even more useful. Some of these options include LIDAR for enhancing the range and accuracy of the system, “+ Awareness” for a better operational experience, as well as additional batteries, ports, and chargers. Those accessories range in cost from $1,275 for the additional ports up to $34,570 for a kit including LIDAR and + Awareness.
So why exactly are contractors considering using this technology? For one, it gives them an “employee” that is programmed to walk the same path and gather information for the project at the same time each day. It can’t be distracted, it doesn’t need human help (although it can be controlled by remote), and it’s consistent.
Several construction tech companies, such as FARO Technologies and HoloBuilder, have already teamed up with Boston Dynamics to integrate their programs into the Spot system. Photo documentation and laser scanning are two of the most obvious and applicable tasks that the robot is meant to perform – at least for now.
So what do you think about Spot? Can you see your company using this technology to capture data on your jobsites?
Shane is the creator of Construction Junkie and an active construction project manager. In his career, he has managed interior remodel projects, site development, construction safety, governmental project compliance, and facility maintenance. He has a strong passion for construction technology and safety, as well as sharing the knowledge or insights he has gained throughout his career.