A journalist walked two miles to his Washington, DC office with a Unitree quadruped robot trotting alongside. Strangers stopped to photograph it. Kids demanded tricks — handstands, leaps, a handshake. Real dogs kept a wary distance. The morning commute, Ars Technica reports, was a triumph.
The walk home was another story. Uphill,
87°F, and the robot's steps grew visibly labored. It made it to within sight of the front door — then collapsed onto its back, legs in the air, battery at 5% and internal temperature at 183°F.When people ask what a $4,000 robot dog is actually useful for, the owner's honest answer: not much. Extremely good at starting conversations, though.