Pet of the future? Chinese technology company Xiaomi unveils a robot dog that can perform ballet steps and even MOONWALK

By William On Aug 17, 2023

They say every dog has their day — and that goes for the robotic pooch replaced by this moonwalking, ballet-dancing upgrade.

Chinese technology company Xiaomi first developed its CyberDog two years ago to compete with the Spot from rival company Boston Dynamics.

Now it unveils an improved model called CyberDog 2 that is even more intelligent and lifelike.

Most importantly, it now looks much more like a dog than just a robotic creature with legs.

That’s because it has taken on some features that resemble a Doberman, including cute ears.

New Model: They say every dog has their day — and that includes the robot dog replaced by this moonwalking, ballet-dancing upgrade

CYBERDOG 2: KEY FACTS

Created by: Xiaomi

Weight: 8.9 kg

Height: 14 inches (35 cm)

Based on: A Dobermann

Tricks: Can perform backflips, skateboard, ballet steps, wiggle his bottom and moonwalk

Price: $1,800 (£1,412)

The four-legged robot is also much smaller and lighter than its predecessor, weighing just 8.9kg compared to the CyberDog’s 14kg.

Engineers at Xiaomi say it is 40 percent smaller than the company’s original robot dog.

CyberDog 2 also has enhanced mobility and is capable of performing a range of impressive maneuvers such as backflips, ballet steps, butt wiggles, and even “spacewalking.”

Oh, and he can skateboard too.

It comes with a more precise control and features a sensor and decision making system packed with 19 sensors for sight, touch and hearing.

The robot is about 14 inches (35 cm) tall, compared to CyberDog’s 15.7 (39 cm) inches, and its dynamic balance should allow it to stop itself from falling.

Xiaomi also packed CyberDog 2 with self-learning AI that took samples from 30,000 generated robot dog models, so it should behave like any robot dog would.

The company powers the creature’s AI with a multi-brain system, with the main brain using an NX processor and the two secondary brains powered by dual co-processors.

Chinese technology company Xiaomi first developed its CyberDog two years ago to compete with the Spot from rival company Boston Dynamics. Now it unveils an improved model called CyberDog 2 that is even more intelligent and lifelike

Most importantly, it now looks much more like a dog than just a robotic creature with legs

That’s because it has taken on some features that resemble a Doberman, including cute ears

CyberDog 2 has a $1,800 (£1,412) price tag, compared to $1,540 (£1,115) for the first model

However, these improvements come with a price increase.

CyberDog 2 carries a $1,800 (£1,412) price tag, compared to $1,540 (£1,115) for the first model.

Powered by a built-in battery that lasts for 90 minutes before fast charging via USB-C, the creature can be controlled with a remote control or a smartphone thanks to its Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi connectivity.

With its four legs and animal-like agility, CyberDog 2 is similar to Spot, the dog-like robot from the American company Boston Dynamics.

Spot first went on sale in 2020 and costs a whopping $75,000 (£60,000).

The robot dog is more aimed at companies to help workers in industries such as construction, defense and building preservation.

It has even been used by Elon Musk’s company SpaceX to inspect launch sites shortly after missiles have been fired.

The four-legged robot is also much smaller and lighter than its predecessor (pictured), weighing just 8.9kg compared to the CyberDog’s 14kg.

With its four legs and animal-like agility, CyberDog 2 is similar to Spot (pictured), the dog-like robot from the American company Boston Dynamics

Boston Dynamics vows not to WEAPONIZE their products after videos of machine guns strapped to famous bionic dogs ‘new urgency’

In October, Boston Dynamics pledged not to support weaponization of its products and called on competitors to do the same.

In a letter, the company said recent attempts to weaponize its robots — such as a Russian inventor strapping a submachine gun to a Unitree robot and filming it firing at targets — had increased the urgency of their statement.

“We promise not to arm our general-purpose advanced mobility robots or the software we develop that enable advanced robotics, and we will not support others to do so,” said the letter, which was signed by six others. companies, including Unitree. .

The Massachusetts-based tech company has regularly seen videos of its robot dogs Spot or its humanoid robot Atlas go viral performing various stunts or athletic tasks in public.

They also pledged to review their customers’ planned use of robots to avoid potential weaponization and to develop new technology features that could mitigate or mitigate the risks.

The letter notes that any technology can be misused by bad actors who can then use it to infringe on civil rights, threaten or harm the public, or much worse.