The robot dog built by Boston Dynamics was used to carry out a remote site survey in Shetland. ‘Spot’ was fitted with a Trimble X7 3SD laser scanner, then manoeuvred through the 55,172m² site using a private 5g communication network to collect data and create site records.

The trial proved that the robot could complete site surveillance that would take days and do it in areas and conditions that would be dangerous to people. It took place at the SSEN Transmission’s Shetland HVDC link project. This project will link Shetland to the rest of the UK’s energy system for the first time.

In a statement Brian Ringley, construction product manager for Boston Dynamics said, “This project is exactly the kind of application where a robot inherently makes sense and can immediately add value. It also shows that we can operate Spot effectively from hundreds of miles away and collect very reliable, repeatable data. It keeps staff from needing to travel to remote and hazardous locations, and it makes the entire surveying project run more efficiently.”

The deployment was part of a 5G testing programme funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. BAM Nuttall led the trial to create a stand-alone 5G network on the Shetland site which will test and review several new technologies.

Colin Evison, head of innovation at BAM Nuttall said: “This is just the start of our journey with Trimble and Boston Dynamics. We’ve worked with them every step of the way, conducting site visits and feeding back how Spot is working for us. Boston Dynamics have been successful at applying the technology across many industries and both they and us can see the potential within construction.”