scenarios including walking over rough terrain and scouting for threats in a building, like a real military dog

Robot is being used in

Dogs have kept soldiers company in hellish warzones since ancient times.

Now the Marine Corps is testing Google's latest robo-dog named Spot.

The four-legged machine developed by Boston Dynamics was first unveiled in February and can run, climb stairs, jog next to its owner and even cope with being kicked.

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The Marine Corps is testing a new robo-dog named Spot (pictured). The four-legged machine developed by Boston Dynamics was first unveiled in February and can run, climb stairs and jog next to its owner

It’s being tested by a team from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia – home of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command, ArsTechnica reported.

Boston Dynamics, which was acquired by Google, had not revealed what Spot would be used for, but simply released a video of the robo-dog in action earlier this year, showing it walking, trotting and climbing stairs.

Spot (pictured) is being tested by a team from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia – home of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command

SPOT THE ROBOTIC DOG Spot was unveiled in February. It weighs 160lb (73kg) and unlike its big brother, BigDog, is electronically powered instead of using gas. A sensor on the robot’s head helps it navigate over rough terrain and to detect when humans, or another robo-dog, is nearby by, allowing it to follow its owner and run in formation. It can walk and trot over uneven terrain and climb stairs. Spot can even maintain balance if kicked. The dog is controlled using a games controller linked to a laptop from up to 1,641 feet (500 metres) away and without a direct line of sight, potentially keeping soldiers safe in a warzone. The robot could be used in the same way as real military dogs, map out disaster zones and assist in search and rescue missions. Advertisement

A sensor on the robot’s head helps it navigate over rough terrain - and to detect when humans, or another robo-dog, is nearby, allowing it to follow its owner and run in formation.

Ben Swilling, a Darpa roboticist who has been involved in the tests, said: ‘I think a robot like Spot has tons of opportunities we could use it for, like scouting or load carriage.’

The team tested the 160lb (73kg) dog on a number of different terrains, conditions and situations, such as running through woods and navigating urban environments.

In one drill, Spot was sent into a building ahead of a squad of marines to seek out threats, taking the role of a real military dog.

Spot is controlled using a games controller linked to a laptop from up to 1,641 feet (500 metres) away and without a direct line of sight, potentially keeping soldiers safe in a warzone.

Captain James Pineiro, head of the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab's Quantico branch, told a Defense Media Activity reporter: ‘Spot is great and has exceeded the metrics that we’ve provided.

‘The Marines [working with Spot] have been very receptive to the new technology, embrace it and came up with new ideas we couldn’t even dream up.

A sensor on the robot’s head helps it navigate over rough terrain - and to spot when humans, or another robo-dog is nearby, allowing it to follow its owner and run in formation. Here the robot's controlled by a laptop

Boston Dynamics has previously released footage of the 'dog coping with being kicked. A GIF is shown above

The team tested the 160lb (73kg) dog on a number of different terrains, conditions and situations, such as running through woods and navigating urban environments. Here, Spot navigates an uneven ditch

‘We see it as a great potential for the future dismounted infantry.'

He said the Marine Corps will keep experimenting with quadruped technologies to find ways it could benefit them in the field.

Another one of Boston Dymanics’ creations, called BigDog or Cujo has already been tested in a similar way by Marines in Hawaii.

It's able to follow a soldier for 20 miles (32 km) while carrying 400 lbs (181kg) of their kit and if it falls over on rugged terrain, it is able to pull itself upright again.

It is controlled in a similar way to Spot and one recruit said using it 'feels like playing Call of Duty.'

But Spot is lighter and quieter and importantly can handle more uneven terrain.

‘The Marines [working with Spot] have been very receptive to the new technology, embrace it and came up with new ideas we couldn’t even dream up,' said Captain James Pineiro. A man testing the robot is pictured

THE CYBERDOGS OF WAR: CANINES COULD SPY ON ENEMY USING REMOTE CONTROLLED CAMERAS The Cerberus Digital Canine Transmitter, named after the multi-headed hellhound that guards the underworld in Greek mythology, is a new camera system that fits onto a dog's back. The pop-up high definition camera, which comes equipped with sensitive microphones, infrared and lights, could see 'cyberdogs' performing reconnaissance for soldiers. It can be operated remotely by a handler from a hidden location up to 1,600 feet away, beaming back images and sound them. Let the beast loose! The pop-up high definition camera, which comes equipped with sensitive microphones, infrared and lights, could see 'cyberdogs' (pictured) performing reconnaissance for soldiers The system can also be used with thermal cameras and is designed to transmit the video over a secure, encrypted link, making it perfect for military use, particularly by Special Forces. Cobham Tactical Communications and Surveillance, which developed the technology and is based in Dorset, said it could also prove an important tool for police forces looking to gather evidence. They said in a statement: 'Canine units in Law Enforcement and Special Forces units now view the capturing of video evidence and the enabling of operators to stand off and make remote safety assessments as an essential part of canine operations.' Advertisement