The ancient city of Pompeii is being defended by a four-legged robot. SPOT is the creation of Boston Dynamics, an American robotics firm.
The robotdog walks through the Pompeii ruins, looking out for any trespassers. It’s also gathering data on the structural integrity of the site.
Pompeii and its sister city, Herculaneum, were destroyed in 79 CE – nearly 2,000 years ago – by a cataclysmic eruption of nearby Mount Vesuvius.
Parts of the towns were sealed off with volcanic debris because it was so fast. That’s made them fertile sites for modern day historians of ancient Roman times.
It’s also made the ruins attractive to illegal relic hunters. That’s where SPOT comes in.
A Leica drone also allows the robotic dog guard to see from above.
These new technologies could help researchers learn more about the life of an elderly person.