Meet ‘Sparky’, A Musculoskeletal Robot That Walks And Acts Like A Real Dog

Animal-inspired robots are nothing new if Boston Dynamic’s Spot is anything to go on. Now, there’s a new dog on the block, and its musculoskeletal limbs give it the freedom to run, jump, and play fetch with all the grace of a real-life canine.
 
‘Sparky’ was designed by a Chinese company, Hengzhi Future Team, with 10 years of experience creating consumer robot products. Its incoming offering is set to rework the stalky, and unnatural movements droids usually have.
 
The company aims to “blur the line between technology and life,” as quoted by Robotics & Automation News, by delivering machines that are more familiar to humans and even “warm to the touch.” In this case, the droid-slash-dog is made purely from metal and might actually be a little cold under one’s hands.

Sparky gets its muscular movement from real-life animals. On its website, it states that wildlife such as ostriches and horses, and how their limbs moved were incorporated into the creation of the robot dog. These were then made of modular connecting rods equipped with an AIA actuator motor unit.
 
It also has a more svelte nature that is in line with real animals than a bulkier build which prohibits its freedom from moving.
 
Once it hits the market, Sparky’s main purpose is to provide companionship and act as a pet for those who need a four-legged friend but cannot afford the upkeep. With that, the droid is outfitted with a built-in camera and microphone to take in its environment and interact with its human counterparts. 

An integrated artificially intelligent system allows it to interpret commands and strike up conversations. Owners will be able to control it via a remote control or app.
 
Sparky will soon be available on Kickstarter for those looking for a low-maintenance pet.
 
 
 
[via Interesting Engineering and Robotics & Automation News, images via Hengzhi Future Team]