Have You Seen This Robot Dog in Billings? It’s WILD

Yesterday, I had an opportunity to see a robot dog in person, and I'm still shaking my head in amazement. When a friend of mine mentioned that Billings Tech Guys recently acquired a robot dog, and told me, "Michael, you HAVE to see this thing!", I couldn't resist.

Thirty-five years ago, I was a dorky kid who was into electronics, ham radio, and basic robotics. If twelve-year-old me saw the robot dog I saw yesterday, my mind would have been absolutely blown. What was once mostly the realm of science fiction is now becoming reality, and it's borderline frightening.

The Billings Tech Guys told me they purchased their robo dog a couple of months ago at a cybersecurity trade show. They believe their electronic pet is the only one of its kind so far in Montana. This particular model sells for around $3,000. The company also makes a humanoid version that sells for $25,000.

Based on a similar design to the internet-famous Boston Dynamics robo-dog named Spot, this version is mostly a high-tech novelty. Its real-world applications are somewhat limited. The guys told me it can follow you on a walk/jog as "security" (it has an on-board camera, in addition to its LIDAR tech), but it can't really protect you from anything.

Sit, stay, run, rollover.

This robo dog charges in about 40 minutes, has a battery life of approximately 2 hours, and it can climb stairs, pounce, run, dance, stand on two legs, roll over (and right itself if it falls over), and perform other tricks.

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It's shockingly quick, trotting along at around 4 miles per hour, roughly the average jogging speed. It's heavier than it looks (I would guess it weighs around 40 pounds), and is incredibly nimble.

I jumped back when they controlled the dog to "pounce" at me. It's oddly unsettling, and 100% fascinating. It mimics the real movements of a dog surprisingly well. I joked that the manufacturer should have put a little electronic tail on it that could wag or stand at attention.

Would you purchase a robot dog?

Other than being a very cool tech toy, this particular model probably isn't very useful for the average consumer. That said, I can imagine these entry-level models will only become smarter with AI and more affordable.

One could envision them as dog-like companions, perhaps for the elderly or children, that could carry on a conversation with you, Chat GPT-style. Certain attachments could make them useful tools for those with physical limitations. And you'll never have to clean up dog poop or get its nails trimmed.