New DroneDog robot security guard gets to work

Humanoid robots are supposed to be the biggest thing in the history of anything, but despite real progress elsewhere, they’re still perpetually two years away. The quadrupeds? They’ve proven to be a little bit closer to prime time – and Boston Dynamics says its latest DroneDog is ready to stop job site theft and vandalism TODAY.

The new robotic DroneDog combines Boston Dynamics’ Spot quadruped with the Asylon PupPack security payload. When paired with human monitors, its makers say it can reliably patrol your construction site, seven days a week, spotting (sorry) security breaches and tracking assets without ever calling in sick.

Best of all, when the robot’s batteries run low, the DroneDog trots over to its trademark DogHouse – a ruggedized, high-impact plastic shell that protects the robot from the elements while it charges its batteries.

In the DogHouse

Asylon says its DroneDogs have already completed more than 250,000 automated security missions across a growing number of commercial and critical infrastructure sites. In addition, the company says DroneDogs have patrolled more than 150,000 miles in real world operational environments, including scheduled patrols, alarm response and post-incident monitoring.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

That’s significant, and not only because it’s more miles than Mercedes’ entire fleet of hydrogen-powered semi trucks covered when they started printing out press releases.

Asylon lists the following features for the new DroneDogs, along with a standard thermal camera with a 20X optical zoom, AI/ML classifiers, cloud connectivity, an expandable payload port, and anti-theft technology:

• All-Terrain Mobility: Ability to climb stairs, navigate uneven surfaces and maneuver through tight spaces.
• Secure Communications and Encrypted Video: Using LTE and mesh networking, AES-256 encryption and redundant uplinks, the system ensures secure transmission of all video and telemetry information.
• Automated Patrolling: The robot can follow programmed patrol routes or be deployed on-demand for alarm or incident response.
• Thermal and Electro-Optical Cameras: High-resolution EO and thermal cameras provide day or night surveillance with real-time video streaming – even in darkness, fog or dense brush.
• Live RSOC Integration: Asylon’s Robotic Security Operations Center provides monitoring and support from live human analysts who can intervene, escalate and direct responses when needed.
• Powered by DroneIQ: DroneIQ automates patrol logic, captures analytics, records video and integrates with existing security systems for compliance, response and reporting.

Depending on who you ask, the DroneDog and DogHouse combo – which builds off the Spot’s $74,500 base price – is expected to carry a sticker price well over $150,000, and still requires some manner of payroll or subscription for the associated human monitors. For those of you doing the math, you’d have to have a lot of job site theft to make that investment pencil, but since we’re dumping billions into AI for the sake of stock pumps, maybe it pencils some other way.

You guys are smart. Head down to the comments section at the bottom of the page and let me know how you think this will pencil out. I’d appreciate the lesson.

SOURCE | IMAGES: Asylon, via Equipment World.

If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them. 

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.