Astro, the Robotic Dog

Scientists from Florida Atlantic University’s Machine Perception and Cognitive Robotics (MPCR) Laboratory are developing Astro, a robotic dog, that could potentially be used as a guide dog for individuals who are blind or have low vision, or as a service animal that provides medical diagnostic monitoring to those who need it. Astro features a 3D-printed head (designed to resemble a Doberman pinscher) that contains a computerized brain. Using artificial intelligence, Astro is being trained through deep neural network to learn from experience, perform real-life tasks, and engage and react to his surroundings in real-time. This robotic dog features Built-in sensors, radar imaging, cameras, and a directional microphone-all of which allow him to respond to commands like sit, stand, and lie down. It will also be able to navigate over rough terrains and respond to dangerous situations. Eventually, researchers hope that Astro will be able to understand hand signals, detect different colors, comprehend various languages, coordinate with drones, distinguish human faces, and recognize other dogs.