If I’m being honest, I’m just writing this to show you a bizarre 52-second video that stopped me in my tracks: It’s a Boston Dynamics Spot robot in a dog costume.
The robotics company has not unveiled any new technology or breakthroughs in robotics. No, this video is simply of an unadorned Spot dancing next to another Spot, dressed in an elaborate, if somewhat cartoonish, dog outfit.
When I first saw the video, I assumed Boston Dynamics had hired an animation studio to CGI a cute dog alongside the $75,000 robot dog popular in factories and among well-heeled enthusiasts. I was wrong.
According to the video description, “Sparkles is a custom costume designed specifically for Spot to explore the intersections of robotics, art and entertainment.” In other words, it’s a blue and white sheepdog costume mounted on top of a standard Spot.
It’s not just the cute and realistic costumes, which only show Spot’s real legs – it’s ‘Sparkles’ moves. In this case, Spot was choreographed using software previously used to choreograph two years ago Spot’s dance routine with Korean supergroup BTScelebrating Boston Dynamic’s partnership with Hyundai Motor Group.
Sparkles’ costume face doesn’t move and his eyes don’t blink. Still, moves I’ve seen Spot perform countless times before take on a much more canine aspect when performed in the Sparkles costume. The combination of friendly pup costume and animation transforms Spot from a slightly scary and obnoxious industrial robot into something you might want to hug and pet (although I’m relieved that Sparkles never stretches his neck like a typical Spot robot might).
While Sparkles could make a move, the costume covers most of the sensors, meaning it might not be a very useful home companion. Plus, the head covers his very useful grabbing face, which probably means Sparkles can’t even use his costume mouth to pick up a fake dog bone.
Boston Dynamics dropped the video just days after teasing its most advanced humanoid robot yet, the completely redesigned and fully electric Atlas. It occurred to me that if Boston Dynamics is willing to put dog clothes on Spot, then Atlas could also be wrapped in a fake human skin and even have a face added to it?
Naturally, the reaction to that robot may be less “awww” and more something approaching pure horror.
Anyway, enjoy Sparkles’ all-too-short dance moves as we wonder how long it will be before this costumed Spot stars in his own children’s show.