Destia tested Spot the robot dog at a construction site
Destia together with BuildingPoint Finland tested “Spot”, Boston Dynamics’ robot dog, on the “from Kalasatama to Pasila” project earlier this week. This was the first time a robot dog was tested on an infrastructure construction site in Finland. The purpose of the test was to find out how robotics can facilitate the modelling of construction sites and make operations more efficient. The remotely controlled robot dog also has access to places that are difficult for people to reach, so its use increases safety on construction sites.
In the test conducted at the mouth of the Sörnäinen Tunnel, the robot dog gathered a point cloud with a laser scanner, which will be used to create a 3D data model. Based on imaging and data, Destia will create a model of the site in the form of a digital twin, a large virtual platform that will allow designers to model the following phases of the site.
The advantages of Spot robotic laser scanning are the automation of repetitive 3D data collection, freeing up personnel resources for other tasks, and the fast flow of information between the office and the site, making it easier to document the progress of the construction project.
“It is fascinating to watch the robot dog at work. It makes you think about the different opportunities that robotics will bring in the coming decades. Digitalisation is already playing a major role in infrastructure construction, with model-based design benefiting from drone imagery and 3D technology, for example. Now, the robot dog gives us a new perspective, as it allows us to quickly and safely capture images in challenging environments on ground level,” says Pekka Lammassaari, Head of R&D at Destia.
Spot is specifically designed for industrial inspection needs. It gathers information efficiently and moves smoothly even in difficult conditions. The robot dog can climb stairs and avoid obstacles, and it will not bump into people. If necessary, a robotic arm for picking up objects can also be attached to the dog.