A robot dog could soon deliver packages to your door.
Boston Dynamics is testing its famous robot dog, Spot, as a delivery assistant. The robot has a new conveyor belt on its back. This belt helps Spot carry packages from a truck and leave them on a customer’s doorstep.
Delivery drivers work very hard. They have to carry many heavy boxes every day. Boston Dynamics hopes Spot can help these drivers. While the driver prepares the next delivery in the van, Spot can walk to the house and drop off the package. This will save time and reduce the physical strain on drivers.
Flying drones and wheeled robots also try to deliver packages, but they have trouble with stairs and messy yards. Spot is different. It can walk on uneven ground, climb stairs, and navigate around obstacles easily.
The robot is not cheap. Spot costs around $75,000. But Boston Dynamics believes it can make deliveries faster. "For every three packages delivered via Spot, we think we can add another package to the van," says Paige Miller, a manager for Spot.
Boston Dynamics is already talking with major delivery companies. They want to start testing Spot in neighborhoods soon.