OLD DOG, NEW TRICKS
Meet SpotMini, the robot dog that learned to open doors
Your next pet could be built from metal and powered by an artificial intelligence, if tech researchers have their way
EVEN dogs aren't exempt from the robot revolution, as Boston Dynamics' incredible SpotMini proves.
The company's canine droid just keeps getting smarter, and now has a new trick: opening doors.
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A new video shows the four-legged robot opening a door using its extendable neck-arm.
The robotic limb reaches out, and uses a pincer-grip to grab hold of the door knob.
A quick twist-and-pull and the door slides open, allowing the dog to leave the room (and potentially escape its life of servitude).
We first saw the robot dog last year, when Boston Dynamics showed off man's best robot friend putting away dishes and sorting recycling.
Sony brings back its robot dog AIBO after putting it down more than a decade ago
Unsurprisingly, the internet is freaking out about the prospect of robot dogs entering our homes.
Others are less convinced by the idea of an impending robot apocalypse:
There's a growing interest in kitting the home out with robots.
Just last week, Chinese firm EXDOLL announced it had built a sex robot capable of washing your dishes – and even laughing at your jokes.
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In 2016, futurologist Dr Ian Pearson predicted that domestic robots would be doing the lion's share of our household chores by 2050.
He said: "The more advanced technology becomes, the more we can focus on being human.
"People won't need to work as much. We'll have a nicer lifestyle with more time for relaxation.
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