Boston Dynamics Introduces ‘Sparkles’, Basically A Dancing ‘Spot’ In Dog Costume

Video screenshot via Boston Dynamics

Boston Dynamics has been growing its family lately. Weeks back, it unveiled the new Atlas, the electric successor of its famed hydraulics-powered humanoid robot of the same name. Then, in time for International Dance Day, it introduced Sparkles the dancing robot dog.

But, surprise! It’s only Spot the mechanic pooch in cosplay. Donning a shimmering, blue, muppet-like getup, Sparkles is here to show off Spot’s impressive agility and advanced software capabilities through a pre-programmed dance routine, alluding to its versatility in numerous applications. Alongside a standard Spot, Sparkles demonstrates the robots’ intricate movements and remarkable balance.

This seemingly innate knack for busting moves comes from Spot’s Choreographer software and API. Launched last year for media and entertainment customers, the innovative tool allows anyone, regardless of dance experience, to train the robot dog to bop using high-level instructions.

Traditional robotic programming requires specific details like joint angles, which can be tedious and unintuitive. Choreographer removes that technical barrier.

Unlike a typical robot that might blindly follow instructions and fall flat on its face, Choreographer accounts for Spot's physical limitations and the surrounding environment. If asked to do something impossible (think leaping across the room) or faced with a slippery floor, Spot will adapt, prioritizing balance while still trying to fulfill the overall dance vision.

This “athletic intelligence” allows even non-technical users to create dazzling routines for Spot, just like choreographing a human dancer. Thanks to it, a furry blue Sparkles takes center stage!

[via Digital Trends and Popular Science, video and cover screenshot via Boston Dynamics]