Viral Video: How Does A Dog React When Meeting A Robot Dog?

In the West, robotics may seem somewhat remote, and even more so if we talk about dogs with designs that seek to imitate the behaviors of these animals, but with technological functions to take them to the next level. For example, they can be used in assisted therapies or offering companionship without the risks of allergies. Or also, they can facilitate police searches Thanks to its advanced sensor technology, reaching places that biological dogs could never reach. Of course, this type of development is in constant evolutionand in the West it is more difficult to meet one on the street if we compare it with the streets of China. These little robotic animals have also been seen in some places in Europe.

For example in Ostend, Belgiumfrom where a curious video that quickly went viral. As the title of this article indicates, the clip shared on the internet spread quickly by showing a iconic encounter: That of a real dog with a robot dog.

How does a dog react when meeting a robot dog?

In this unique encounter captured on video, we can see the confusion between species, showing the curious reaction of a dog upon meeting a robot dog for the first time. The four-legged protagonist who appears to be of the husky breed faced “Spot the Robot Dog”, an advanced automaton created by Boston dynamicsunleashing a feast of barks and glances.

That record became widespread in 2021 by the filmmaker Mathias Monstrey, who captured the moment his film crew, while taking footage of Spot, was surprised by a local canine and its owner. Monstrey described the scene with humor: “The dog had more questions than answers, but believe me, Spot was just trying to make a new friend.”

In the clip you can see husky barking profusely, while the robot steps back, as if waiting for the dog to calm down at some point. Although we do not know the outcome of this story, what is clear is that the pet noticed that she was dealing with a strange being, due to the fierceness of his barking.

What type of robot dogs exist?

In this industry the pioneer is Spot The Robot Dog, designed to move with great agility. It is a technological tool that was created with the objective of performing routine inspections and ensuring accurate data collectionbecoming part of a growing trend that seeks to integrate robotics into everyday tasks and real-life situations.

For example, in Hangzhou, China, the technology startup Welian works with “AlphaDog”a robot equipped with sensors and artificial intelligence that imitates the actions of a real dog and performs proactive tasks such as guiding blind people and detecting intruders, all through voice commands.

While Xiaomi shows off its “CyberDog”, presented for the first time in August 2021 and is now in its second generation. This “cyber pet” is based on SPOT's pioneering designbut his physique is lighter, smaller and with advanced capabilities.

In fact, the second version of CyberDog resembles a Doberman and is equipped with self-developed CyberGear microactuators, a AI-powered decision making and a variety of sensors spanning vision, touch and hearing. In addition, it is compatible with the Xiaomi AI voice algorithm, which gives it a processing capacity that reaches 21 TOPS for a Cost approximately 1,633 euros and only available for purchase in China.