US tech company Trimble has integrated a laser scanner and 3D capture software to Boston Dynamics' robot dog Spot as part of an ongoing collaboration.
oston Dynamics' Spot equipped with Trimble tech. Credit: Antonello Marangi / Shutterstock
Spot, equipped with Trimble tech, at a technology fair in Turin, Italy, in September 2021. Credit: Antonello Marangi / Shutterstock
Spot, which was developed jointly by both companies, has been specially designed to survey construction sites by using its unique kit to deal with any challenging or potentially unsafe working environments and relaying this information back to site owners.
Read more: Trimble partnership unveils technologies for new robotic dog
Trimble's 3D capture technology enables a continuous flow of information between the field and the office for consistent, ongoing documentation of jobsite progress.
The robot harnesses artificial intelligence to process data and draws up progress reports and provides analysis of site conditions and areas of improvement.
It can carry up to 14kg of equipment and is remote-controlled via a tablet.
The X7 laser scanner has been fully integrated into Spot's control software, which allows for the controller to mark waypoints to follow and collect scans, which can be scheduled to run regularly for efficient onsite management.
The FieldLink software displays a 3D render of the site onto the tablet's surface, allowing users to analyse problems in real-time.
"Users don't have to figure out the integration of the scanner", said Thai Nguyen, director of Virtual Design and Construction, at Hensel Phelps, one of the venture's key clients, revealing the technology can help save days of time performing and relaying analysis to project staff.
Trimble's FieldLink software. Credit: Trimble
A screenshot of Trimble's FieldLink software. Credit: Trimble
"This allows us to make the best decisions as quickly as possible with the best information", he added.
"Our construction customers require turnkey solutions for autonomous jobsite documentation and analysis. Boston Dynamics' strategic alliance with Trimble has allowed us to build that solution collaboratively by combining our strengths in robotics and construction, respectively," said Brian Ringley, construction product manager at Boston Dynamics.
"This unique integration is simply unprecedented—it's never been easier to scan a jobsite, and the increased scanning frequency is creating new opportunities in automated project analysis and insight", he added.
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Spot has already been rolled out to several key customers within the sector. Aside from Hensel Phelps, other customers include General Contractors, Woodside, National Grid, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology.
The robot is currently sold by Boston Dynamics for $74,500 (€64,000) and comes ready for operation straight out of the box.
As of now, it is available in two packages: the explorer package, which offers basic support; and the as-yet-unreleased enterprise package, which will come fully equipped with data analysis software, increased WiFi range and self-charging.
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