Boston Dynamics tries to use ‘robot dogs’ to deliver goods

Although attempts have already been made to speed up the delivery of goods using wheeled robots or aerial drones, people are still the best way to navigate obstacles such as stairs or difficult paths to get the package from the truck to the door. A demonstration video shows a driver unloading packages on the Spot to be distributed at a door that Boston Dynamics hopes will be useful enough to purchase one of the $75k~ bots.

Boston Dynamics says that it is “already in discussions with major commercial operators to test Spot for a last-mile solution” and that it aims to move from these demonstrations to a test operation.

The Spot’s unique ability to climb uneven terrain and traverse difficult obstacles would enable it to be used as a dispatch aid. The robot is already used to help clear debris as part of a search and rescue operation, and Boston Dynamics believes this could make it suitable for navigating “unsettled rural areas” where the path from the curb to the front door is unobstructed.

The robot will not only help reduce the physical stress on delivery drivers, it will also give them more time to do other tasks such as preparing for the next delivery while Spot lowers its current salary, which can increase their efficiency. “For every three packages delivered through Spot, we think we can add another package,” says Paige Miller, managing director of Boston Dynamics at Spot.