Move aside, Spot! Xiaomi launches a $1,540 CyberDog as a cheaper rival to Boston Dynamics’ $74,500 four-legged robot dog
- Chinese firm Xiaomi’s robot dog is not only cheaper, but smaller and lighter than Boston Dynamics’ Spot
- It stands at 15.7 inches when walking, weighs 31 lbs and can reach to speeds of up to 7.2 mph
- With both remote and voice control, CyberDog can follow its owner and navigate around obstacles
- It is also capable of various tricks just like a real dog, including begging, shaking paws and backflips
They say every dog has its day, but for Spot, the oft-dancing robot canine from Boston Dynamics, that time may soon be up, thanks to a new rival joining the scene.
Developed by the Chinese tech firm Xiaomi, ‘CyberDog’ boasts an economical price tag of just $1,540 (£1,115), compared to Spot’s whopping $74,500 (£53,774).
The four-legged robot is also slightly smaller and much lighter, standing at just 15.7 inches and weighing only 31 lbs, compared to Spot’s 24 inch stature and 72 lb heft.
This, combined with powerful servo motors, gives CyberDog a top speed of 7.2 mph — around twice that of Spot’s 3.5 mph — and even the ability to perform backflips.
With both remote and voice control, the cyber canine can follow its owner, navigate around obstacles and perform other tricks including begging and shaking a paw.
Furthermore, its open source nature will allow developers to build on the design and customise it — and even add hardware — to suit a variety of different applications.
CyberDog is the not the only cheaper robotic rival to move in on Spot’s market — last year, Chinese tech firm Unitree released the tiny ‘Go1’, while sells for $2,700 (£1,948).
Spot robots have found various applications, from surveying dangerous explosives and explore active crime scenes to reminding people to social distance.
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They say every dog has its day — but for Spot, the famous robot canine from Boston Dynamics, that time may soon be up, thanks to a new rival (CyberDog, pictured) joining the scene
Developed by the Chinese tech firm Xiaomi, ‘CyberDog’ (pictured) boasts an economical price tag of just $1,540 (£1,115), compared to Spot’s whopping $74,500
The four-legged robot is also slightly smaller and much lighter that Spot — standing at just 15.7 inches and weighing only 31 lbs, compared to Spot’s 24 inch stature and 72 lb heft
CyberDog is the not the only cheaper robotic rival to move in on Spot’s market — last year, Chinese tech firm Unitree released the tiny ‘Go1’, while sells for $2,700. Pictured: Spot
XIAOMI’S CYBERDOG VS BOSTON DYNAMICS’ SPOT
Cost
Length
Width
Height
Weight
Max. load
Speed
Released
Cameras
Battery life
Full charge
CyberDog
$1,540
30.4″
14.0″
15.7″
31 lbs
6.6 lbs
7.2 mph
2021
Three
60 mins
160 mins
Spot
$74,500
43.3″
19.7″
24.0″
72 lbs
31 lbs
3.5 mph
2020
Five
90 mins
120 mins
‘CyberDog is Xiaomi’s first foray into quadruped robotics for the open source community and developers worldwide,’ the firm said in a press release.
‘Robotics enthusiasts interested in CyberDog can compete or co-create with other like-minded Xiaomi Fans, together propelling the development and potential of quadruped robots.’
To this end, they explained, they are establishing a ‘Xiaomi Open Source Community’ through which developers around the world can share upgrades to CyberDog.
The Beijing-based firm has also promised to establish a robotics laboratory, aiming to provide ‘a platform for engineers to continue the pursuit of future innovations.’
According to Xiaomi, the initial release of CyberDog will see the sale of only 1,000 units of the robot, with a target market of engineers, roboticists and Xiaomi fans.
In order to navigate and interact with varied environments like a real-life animal, CyberDog is equipped with 11 high-precision sensors of various types, including GPS modules, ultrasonic transducers, touch sensors and multiple cameras.
‘Built upon this vision sensor system are autonomous object tracking, simultaneous localization and mapping and centimetre-scale obstacle avoidance and navigation,’ a Xiaomi spokesperson explained.
‘This means that CyberDog can analyse its surroundings in real-time, create navigational maps, plot its destination, and avoid obstacles.
‘Coupled with human posture and face recognition tracking, CyberDog is capable of following its owner and darting around obstructions.’
The robotic hound’s hardware is driven by the so-called NVIDIA® Jetson Xavier™ NX platform, which Xiaomi describe as being an ‘AI Supercomputer for Embedded and Edge Systems.’ It runs a version of the Ubuntu operating system.
CyberDog sports both three USB-C and one HDMI ports by which developers can tweak its onboard software and also link up additional hardware — such as, for example, panoramic or motion cameras, lidar sensors or search lights.
The robot will be controllable via an accompanying remote and a specially designed smartphone app.
However, the firm said, a built-in voice assistant also allows owners to give their robot commands just as if it were a real life pet pooch.
‘CyberDog can be called on for the most unique tasks, and the ways in which it can be interacted with holds unforetold possibilities,’ Xiaomi concluded.
CyberDog sports both three USB-C and one HDMI ports by which developers can tweak its onboard software and also link up additional hardware — such as, for example, panoramic or motion cameras, lidar sensors or search lights
The robot will be controllable via an accompanying remote and a specially designed smartphone app — however, the firm said, a built-in voice assistant also allows owners to give their robot commands just as if it were a real life pet pooch
‘CyberDog can be called on for the most unique tasks, and the ways in which it can be interacted with holds unforetold possibilities,’ Xiaomi concluded. Pictured: Walkies?
BOSTON DYNAMICS’ SPOT
Boston Dynamics first showed off SpotMini, the most advanced robot dog ever created, in a video posted in November 2017.
The firm, best known for Atlas, its 5 foot 9 (1.7 metre) humanoid robot, has revealed a new ‘lightweight’ version of its robot Spot Mini.
The robotic canine was shown trotting around a yard, with the promise that more information from the notoriously secretive firm is ‘coming soon’.
‘SpotMini is a small four-legged robot that comfortably fits in an office or home’ the firm says on its website.
It weighs 25 kg (55 lb), or 30 kg (66 lb) when you include the robotic arm.
SpotMini is all-electric and can go for about 90 minutes on a charge, depending on what it is doing, the firm says, boasting ‘SpotMini is the quietest robot we have built.’
SpotMini was first unveiled in 2016, and a previous version of the mini version of spot with a strange extendable neck has been shown off helping around the house.
In the firm’s previous video, the robot is shown walking out of the firm’s HQ and into what appears to be a home.
There, it helps load a dishwasher and carries a can to the trash.
It also at one point encounters a dropped banana skin and falls dramatically – but uses its extendable neck to push itself back up.
‘SpotMini is one of the quietest robots we have ever built, the firm says, due to its electric motors.
‘It has a variety of sensors, including depth cameras, a solid state gyro (IMU) and proprioception sensors in the limbs.
‘These sensors help with navigation and mobile manipulation.
‘SpotMini performs some tasks autonomously, but often uses a human for high-level guidance.’
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