Spot,the robot dog, with FARO S class laser scanner on top

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SAttaya
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Spot,the robot dog, with FARO S class laser scanner on top

Post by SAttaya »

Just saw the webinar from FARO, Boston Dynamics (maker of spot), autodesk and a construction company.

Please start a conversation.

How do you get the scanner higher than the mount on the top of the dog is my first ?

They also mentioned the FARO Swift which is in another LSF thread.

Anyone got any experience with this or a similar combination?
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Re: Spot,the robot dog, with FARO S class laser scanner on top

Post by jcoco3 »

hmm...I must have missed the webinar :( Hope it was recorded and a link gets provided.

How do you get the scanner higher than the mount on the top of the dog is my first? Just guessing here, but I would think a taller mount would make the act of balancing for the pup even more difficult. Might be better to make him stand on his tippy-toes before each scan, or use that robot arm attachment or similar to mount the scanner on so it can be raised up during the scan.

I had a very good webinar on the Swift today, and might share my comments (more questions) on that thread when I get a minute...until then, in ways it was better than I hoped, but still need much more info to satisfy my thirst.

There were other threads about Spot here if you are interested:
viewtopic.php?f=42&t=16403&p=86668
viewtopic.php?f=47&t=16419

I wonder who is going to be first to slip up and let spot get hit by a car and have to put it down like Old Yeller? :lol:
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Re: Spot,the robot dog, with FARO S class laser scanner on top

Post by Scott.Warren »

Faro isn't the only person doing this as well. Holobuilder has experimented with Spot and imaging/scanning of construction sites. I've seen an RTC on Spot before too.

As for mounting, if Adam Savage can get it to pull him on cart, it shouldn't be too bad . . .

youtu.be/zyaocKS3sfg
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Re: Spot,the robot dog, with FARO S class laser scanner on top

Post by ddustin »

Spot3.jpg
Spot.png
I had Spot for a while for testing and even scanned it with an Alpha version of the Freestyle 2.
To say it's impressive is an understatement.
As far as the height of the scanner, you're limited a bit. It could be placed on a telescoping base but I think the inherent balancing Spot performs might introduce variations in the scan data..

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Re: Spot,the robot dog, with FARO S class laser scanner on top

Post by jcoco3 »

C'mon! A vette, spot, 350, and a freestyle...now you are just showing off :o

I would round up all my cool stuff and take a picture to one up you, but I think you already won :lol:
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Re: Spot,the robot dog, with FARO S class laser scanner on top

Post by ddustin »

jcoco3 wrote: Fri Jul 10, 2020 6:21 pm I would round up all my cool stuff and take a picture to one up you, but I think you already won :lol:
I'm sure you have a lot of cool stuff Jonathan..
If it's any consolation, I don't have Spot anymore (but it was sure fun to freak the locals out with it :lol: ).
I used it to walk the kids home from the bus stop 8-)
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Re: Spot,the robot dog, with FARO S class laser scanner on top

Post by jcoco3 »

(but it was sure fun to freak the locals out with it :lol: )
lol :lol: yes that's how its supposed to be done 8-)

Just had a great thought...if I had a Spot, I would paint it black, wrap it in heavy black fur, give it glowing eyes, make it howl on command, then chase people down the streets on Halloween. This has to be done before people get accustomed to Spot and know what it is, we must seize this opportunity[rubs hands together] :twisted:

Like this...
gTYGqqO.gif
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Re: Spot,the robot dog, with FARO S class laser scanner on top

Post by SAttaya »

I didn't know about the Swift webinar, but did see the Freestyle 2 one...got a link for the Swift recording or was it NDA only?
jcoco3 wrote: Thu Jul 09, 2020 11:21 pm I had a very good webinar on the Swift today, and might share my comments (more questions) on that thread when I get a minute...until then, in ways it was better than I hoped, but still need much more info to satisfy my thirst.
I'm thinking it's going to carry a self unfolding
extending tripod
with a scanner mounted to the top and then move itself
behind something just like we do...

Makes you think Johnathan the gadget maker might have an opportunity here...hummmm :lol:
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Re: Spot,the robot dog, with FARO S class laser scanner on top

Post by Kolt45 »

As a big fan or robotics myself I am really looking forward to "carriers" that are intelligent enough to carry laser scanners throughout buildings on full autonomy.

As of now Spot looks great but it is one of the early products of its kind. From what I heard it needs a "dog-walker". Someone essentially needs to program it how to move around, set it off, make sure it does not get stuck anywhere, etc. Not sure this is true but battery life on it is 60-90 minutes too. It means you get a dog for 75k then need to hire a person to take care of it and buy a scanner to mount on top. Why not just have a scanning guy with a scanner to do the same job faster?

It is more of a marketing stunt that a feasible model as of now. I hope in 5-10 years we will get to the point where it will make sense.

On the other hand - have you seen Brain Corp self driving cleaning robots at Walmarts? I feel like those could be a great fit in retail / office environments to mount scanners in them. They are taller too.
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Re: Spot,the robot dog, with FARO S class laser scanner on top

Post by jcoco3 »

Sorry Steve, webinar was the wrong word. It was just a Zoom call with Pete and Duane. Kind-of a brief intro. Some of extra bells and whistles were still in testing, so I need to confirm if it was NDA stuff or not before I yap about any of it.
I'm thinking it's going to carry a self unfolding
extending tripod
with a scanner mounted to the top and then move itself
behind something just like we do...
Oh, now that was funny :lol: Nah, I got it! We train it do the the ring around the rosie dance to stay clear of the laser.


It means you get a dog for 75k then need to hire a person to take care of it and buy a scanner to mount on top. Why not just have a scanning guy with a scanner to do the same job faster?
Yeah, this is probably still true for many situations, but give it time and it will get figured out for more and more challenging scenarios. Don't forget about the remote operations aspect too. Basically if you could just sit at your computer in comfort and watch this thing from a distance would you want to? Having done it before with other robots, I can honestly say it has its advantages especially for hazardous environments. The fully autonomous aspect will get better, but only if we keep trying to get it there.
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