These sensors help with navigation and
mobile manipulation. SpotMini performs
some tasks autonomously, but often
uses a human for high level guidance.”
That’s a pretty impressive
specifications list for a home robot that’s
been delegated to assist with dish
washing. Oh, what do I mean by dish
washing? Well, the laundry list of
accessible functions that are right up the
SpotMini’s alley include:
• Walk (or, better yet, scamper) up
a flight of stairs (Figure 4A to 4E).
• Deliver snacks or a can of soda
like in Figure 5 to a carbon-based life
form (i.e., that’s you!).
• Pick itself up off the floor; like after slipping on a
pile of banana peels (Vaudeville would be proud of this
bot’s pratfall) (Figure 6A to 6D).
• Pick up around the house; great for teenagers.
New Dog, Old Trick
Built on a svelte four-legged chassis, the SpotMini
42 SERVO 08.2016
Figure 4A-4E. It’s always on the
second floor! Surprisingly, SpotMini is
able to nimbly climb a set of typical
household stairs.
A BC
ED
Figure 5. Never try to “take” the soda can from SpotMini;
rather ask first, “SpotMini, may I?”
