Photos: How Spot, the military robot dog, sniffs out enemies

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  • Robot sentinel

    Robot sentinel

    Named after man's best friend, Spot is a four-legged robot, one of a type that could soon have a role helping the US Marines Corps.

    Built by Google-owned Boston Dynamics, the 160-pound, electrically-powered bot spent a week being put through boot camp at the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab in Quantico, Virginia.

    The dog-like, hydraulically-actuated machine was subjected to a battery of tests that determined its ability to help the corps in their daily tasks - such as clearing this room.

    Spot went into the building before the Marines, simulating peeking around corners and looking for enemies and other threats.

    Employees of DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) were on hand to train marines in how to control Spot.

    Photo by: US Marine Corps

    Caption by: Nick Heath

  • Spot heads out

    Spot heads out

    Ben Swilling, a roboticist from DARPA, operates Spot.

    "I think a robot like Spot has tons of opportunities," said Swilling, suggesting uses such as scouting and carrying loads.

    Photo by: US Marine Corps

    Caption by: Nick Heath

  • On a digital leash

    On a digital leash

    Swilling controlled Spot via radio link using a black Xbox 360 controller and a laptop.

    Spot remained operational from as far away as 500m.

    "It's actually very easy to operate the robots," said Swilling. "We have had people as young as four run the robot around."

    Photo by: US Marine Corps

    Caption by: Nick Heath

  • Tackling tricky terrain

    Tackling tricky terrain

    Here, Spot maneuvers through a ditch during a demonstration.

    Throughout the week the marines tested Spot's ability to traverse different terrain - including hills, woodlands, and urban settings.

    Photo by: US Marine Corps

    Caption by: Nick Heath

  • Lifted into place

    Lifted into place

    Above, DARPA employees give Spot a helping hand.

    While the marines don't have plans to deploy Spot, the service is keen on using a smaller, quieter bot of the same type.

    "Spot is great and has exceeded the metrics that we've provided," said Captain James Pineiro, the branch head for Marine Corps Warfighting Lab. "We see it as a great potential for the future dismounted infantry."

    The service found the bot to be more agile than its bigger brothers, the Legged Squad Support System (LS3) and BigDog, also made by Boston Dynamics.

    DARPA is also hoping to broaden the pool of robotics technology available to the US military by offering $150,000 funding to individuals and small robotics teams to develop prototype systems that could help troops in the field.

    Photo by: US Marine Corps

    Caption by: Nick Heath

  • Blue sky thinking

    Blue sky thinking

    The US military is very interested in deploying robots to help troops. Last year General Robert Cone, then head of the US Army Training and Doctrine Command, said the army was looking at reducing personnel and increasing the use of robots.

    DARPA's Swilling is clear on what he sees as the benefits of such a move.

    "Robots can't get shot and they can't die. If you need to send someone into danger's way, you don't want anyone to get hurt."

    Photo by: US Marine Corps

    Caption by: Nick Heath

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The US Marine Corps has been putting Boston Dynamics four-legged Spot robot through its paces.

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Robot sentinel

Named after man's best friend, Spot is a four-legged robot, one of a type that could soon have a role helping the US Marines Corps.

Built by Google-owned Boston Dynamics, the 160-pound, electrically-powered bot spent a week being put through boot camp at the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab in Quantico, Virginia.

The dog-like, hydraulically-actuated machine was subjected to a battery of tests that determined its ability to help the corps in their daily tasks - such as clearing this room.

Spot went into the building before the Marines, simulating peeking around corners and looking for enemies and other threats.

Employees of DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) were on hand to train marines in how to control Spot.

Caption by: Nick Heath

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