In context
In early 2023, the use of legged robots in defense and public safety was expanding, but reliable, secure communications in remote or confined environments remained a key challenge. Mobile ad hoc networking (MANET) technology was emerging as a solution for enabling robust, interoperable command-and-control of unmanned systems.
What was reported
Persistent Systems, a provider of MANET technology, announced that Boston Dynamics had joined its Relay Ecosystem, an alliance of unmanned system and sensor producers using Wave Relay MANET for command-and-control and communications. Under the agreement, Persistent Systems will supply MANET devices for Boston Dynamics robots sold to defense, public safety, law enforcement, and US federal government customers.
Boston Dynamics officials said the partnership better positions its quadruped robot Spot for industries requiring dedicated, secure communications in remote environments. Applications cited include subterranean or confined space exploration, unexploded ordnance inspection, suspicious package investigation, hazardous gas detection, search and rescue, and structural inspection.
In addition to integrating MANET hardware, robotic command-and-control software will be loaded onto Persistent Systems devices, allowing users to control Spot via the Persistent Systems Remote Display and Controller (RDC). This enables streaming sensor data and movement control from a single device, reducing the need for unique controllers per unmanned system.
Why it mattered
The integration of MANET into Spot highlighted a trend toward interoperable, network-centric operations for mobile robots in critical missions. By standardizing on a common communication backbone, the partnership aimed to improve reliability and scalability, potentially influencing how industrial and public-sector users deploy robots in challenging environments.
“We believe that our MANET technology will provide their robots with a high-performance solution that is robust, reliable and scalable – and also enables interoperability with third-party unmanned and sensor platforms.”
Source: Robotics & Automation News (roboticsandautomationnews.com) · Published 2023-01-22 · “Boston Dynamics joins Persistent Systems mobile telecommunications ecosystem”