Boston Dynamics SpotMini Robot Can Bust a Move to ‘Uptown Funk’

Boston Dynamics has shown us robots that can walk, run, carry objects, and open doors. Now, it’s showing us a robot that can bust a move. In the latest demo of its SpotMini quadrupedal robot, Boston Dynamics has programmed the machine to dance to 2014’s hit track “Uptown Funk” from Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson. Now we know how the robots will celebrate after exterminating humanity: they shall dance.

The video can mostly speak for itself. Well, dance for itself. SpotMini starts off with a little bobbing, but then it slides, sways, moonwalks… and twerks? Robots don’t have the necessary anatomy for that, but SpotMini does an admirable job. It basically shows off better rhythm than most humans have on the dance floor, which is equal parts amazing and unsettling.

The video is only about a minute long while the actual song is more than four minutes. We can safely assume it wasn’t easy to get the robot to groove with such skill because who wouldn’t want four minutes of robot dancing instead of one minute if that were possible? If that is actually attainable, I implore Boston Dynamics to get the rest of the dance routine posted ASAP.

Currently, Boston Dynamics’ only product is YouTube videos, which probably bring in some respectable AdSense dollars. In this case, the video is technically an ad for the company’s first real product. SpotMini will go on sale next year, marking the first time in 26 years that Boston Dynamics has sold a product. Previously, it survived on contracts from government agencies and investment cash. It is currently working to build the first 100 SpotMini robots that will go on sale in 2019, but the company hasn’t announced a price. Suffice it to say, this won’t be the sort of thing you’ll buy to keep around the house.

Boston Dynamics sees Spot Mini as ideal for industrial, security, and maintenance purposes. It’s a refined version of the original Spot, which we’ve seen showing off its ability to run and remain standing even when some jerk human is kicking it. Hopefully, the dance program comes pre-installed on all SpotMini units.

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