In a deal revealed Monday, door hardware giant Assa Abloy announced that Boston Dynamics’ Spot will be able to autonomously unlock its automated doors. “Until now,” the lock maker notes, “the word ‘autonomous’ didn’t apply to Spot’s ability to open accessed-controlled doors easily.”
The “embedded digital access credentials” work over Bluetooth, allowing the four-legged robot to pass through automated doors during security patrol sessions. The companies will also offer up the feature for settings where Spot is deployed to perform inspection duties, such as power plants and oil refineries.
Boston Dynamics apparently floated the feature idea to Assa Abloy, though we know the company has been refining Spot’s velociraptor-like ability to open doors for years.