It’s 2020 and we have developed a domestic pet robot. Well, we might not have come as far as the 21st century shown in old sci-fi movies. But we are making a good progress.

Boston Dynamics, one of the world’s largest robotics company is selling a robot to the public (for the first time). The company’s robotic dog, “Spot” is available for sale on their website for a cost of $74,500. Let’s see it in action.

There’s more that you could do with Spot..

Spot is an agile mobile robot that you can customise for a wide range of applications. The base platform provides rough-terrain mobility, 360 degree obstacle avoidance, and various levels of navigation, remote control and autonomy. You can customise Spot by adding specialised sensors, software and other payloads.

Spot debuted in 2015, but was only made commercially available last week on Tuesday. With its canine appearance and human-like movements, Spot has experienced its fair share of internet fame. Videos of Spot dancing, opening doors and even pulling a truck have gone viral on the Boston Dynamics YouTube channel.

Words from the makers..

“It’s not just Spot riding on a wheeled robot, but we’ve had some customers looking at Spot carrying a drone, and the drone flies off the back of the robot, does inspection of something that’s high up, lands on the back of the robot, and continues on its mission,” says Michael Perry, Boston Dynamics’s vice president of business development. “There are a lot of advantages and opportunities to explore the ways different types of automation can collaborate together.” And in case the idea of a robotic dog teaming up with other bots still reminds you of a Robot Apocalypse , Boston Dynamics insists outright that Spot won’t become a Terminator.

2020 has already brought many surprises. And now, a glimpse into the, not so distant, future.