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3 months ago
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This is the moment a £60,000 robot dog takes a catastrophic fall down a flight of stairs and breaks during a botched demo.
MailOnline caught the dramatic event on camera during a visit to Lyons Park, Jaguar Land Rover's battery testing facility in Coventry.
Small parts scatter the floor and sparks fly as the industrial helper robot – sold by US firm Boston Dynamics – struggles to get back up.
Gonzalo Ejarque-Rinaldini, technical project manager at JLR, told MailOnline that the poor pooch would need replacement parts installed before it could walk again.
'My trust in Boston Dynamics is as high as always – these machines are top class,' he told MailOnline.
Just like RMS Titanic travelled 2,000 miles before it hit that fatal iceberg, Rover had managed to perform several tasks admirably before his little incident
Loose parts scatter the floor and sparks fly as the poor robotic pooch struggles to get back up
Boston Dynamics' robotic dog
Creator: Boston Dynamics
Price: $75,000 (about £60,000)
Length: 43.3 inches (100cm)
Max speed: 1.6 metres per second
Operating temperature: -4°F to 113°F (-20°C to 45°C)
Battery capacity: 605 Wh
Typical runtime: 90 minutes
Cameras: 5 (frontleft, frontright, left, right, back)
'The perception system is quite advanced – I have total trust on that.
'Machines do fall and it's important to have the recovery capability.'
At Lyons Park, JLR scientists and engineers test prototype electric batteries at various pressures and temperatures before they're installed in any of its test vehicles.
'Spot' the dog (which JLR has rechristened 'Rover', geddit?) is tasked with patrolling the site to look out for any problems that could spell trouble, which it can alert staff to by sending an email.
For example, it can detect a piece of machinery that gets too hot thanks to its thermal imaging camera – which could present a fire hazard.
It can also sense the smallest gas leaks that would be undetectable to humans with its built-in sensors, or approach parts of the facility that would be otherwise unsafe following an accident.
Just like RMS Titanic travelled 2,000 miles before it hit that fatal iceberg, Rover had managed to perform several tasks admirably during his demonstration for media on Thursday before his little incident.
He patrolled corridors with authority, navigated past employees, pushed open and walked through a door, and managed to get up from a lying position on the floor.
The robot dog, which is suited for indoor or outdoor use, can map its environment, sense and avoid obstacles, open doors and (the majority of the time) successfully climb stairs
Gonzalo Ejarque-Rinaldini, technical project manager at JLR, demonstrates his 'pet' at the Lyons Park battery testing facility in Coventry
Eventually, Rover climbed up a small set of stairs and carefully positioned itself for the return journey before taking its first step downwards.
Unfortunately, the steps that JLR used for the demo had a gap down the middle – which had a critical effect on its footing.
Rover placed its left front leg on the gap and instantly slipped and fell.
Slamming heavily into the hard floor, Rover dislocated a limb as small bits scattered, including a plastic cap and a miniature screw.
MailOnline even saw a little spark before backing off slightly.
The dog struggled to get back up and it was eventually switched off so that engineers could take a closer look at the damage.
It's unclear why Rover didn't detect the gap, or if it did why it didn't register it as a hazard; MailOnline is awaiting comment from Boston Dynamics.
MailOnline with Rover after its dramatic accident. JLR said it would need to order replacement parts to get it back up and running after its limb detached
Rover was switched off so JLR engineers could take a closer look at the damage - and the event had to be curtailed
Rover's field of view is shared on a big screen as it successfully climbed up the stairs (before later falling down on the return journey)
Truly, MailOnline found this to be a regrettable accident – although it serves a candid lesson about where this sort of technology is at right now.
While nine times out of 10 Rover may have navigated the stairs with success, it's really unfortunate that it failed during its big moment in the spotlight.
JLR shared an official comment: 'Still very much in training as part of our pilot, it’s unfortunate that Rover misplaced his footing during the demo.
'But with every dog having its day, we’re wishing him a speedy recovery and we'll look forward to him joining the pack again in the next couple of weeks.'
Rover prepares to push open a door at the site, using its forward claw where a real pooch's head would be
It has a typical runtime of 90 minutes before it needs to recharge at its charging port - much like a pet pup needs a rest in its basket
JLR is one of many customers using Boston Dynamics' dog, including the French army, Pompeii Archaeological Park and Elon Musk's SpaceX.
Rover has been in use for about six months at JLR's Coventry facility, along with a second unit at another JLR site in Shannon, Ireland.
JLR plans to increase the company's fleet to about 10 dogs who will make their way autonomously around the building just like any staff member.
Ejarque-Rinaldini told MailOnline: 'Initially when people see Rover the reaction is like, "Oh it's fantastic I need to take a photo!"
'But then after a certain time when they become familiar it's like any other tool or equipment.'
