Following the news that a robotic dog developed by Boston Dynamics is enforcing social distancing at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park in Singapore;

Wafaa Hassan, Thematic Analyst atGlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers her view:

“COVID-19 has created new opportunities for the robotics industry. Companies can demonstrate the capabilities of their products by performing tasks that humans are unable or unwilling to do for safety reasons. For example, Boston Dynamics’ robot dog, Spot, is helping to maintain social distancing in a park in Singapore.

“Boston Dynamics has received a lot of publicity for developing robots that can run fast, jump high, and lift heavy things. However, it has struggled to turn those innovations into marketable products. COVID-19 has given it an opportunity to apply its technology to specific use cases, such as enforcing social distancing.

“Robots are increasingly being used to perform tasks traditionally carried out by humans, due to the fact that they don’t get sick and can work in dirty or unsafe conditions. As the public becomes more accustomed to robots being around, and as they become smarter, they will become increasingly accepted as part of the workforce. This crisis might be the first step towards robots becoming a part of everyday life.”