---
title: "Boston Dynamics’s SpotMini Just Unveiled a New Trick"
description: "Boston Dynamics's four-legged SpotMini robot has learned a new trick: how to deftly open doors and hold them open for others to walk through."
date: "2018-02-12"
modified: "2018-02-12"
authors:
  - name: "Aylin Woodward"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/aylin"
url: "https://futurism.com/boston-dynamics-spotmini-new-trick"
categories:
  - "Boston Dynamics"
  - "Robotics"
  - "Robots and Machines"
tags:
  - "boston dynamics"
  - "spotmini"
---

# Boston Dynamics’s SpotMini Just Unveiled a New Trick

![bostondynamics doors robots manipulation SpotMini](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bostnynamics.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: \<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUyU3lKzoio" target="\_blank"\>Boston Dynamics/YouTube\</a\>\</em\>*

SpotMini, [Boston Dynamics's](<https://www.bostondynamics.com/>) dog-like quadruped robot, is back, and it's learned a new trick. [The robot](<https://www.bostondynamics.com/spot-mini>), which was unveiled in [June 2016](<https://futurism.com/meet-spotmini-the-robot-best-friend-you-never-knew-you-wanted>) and then updated in [November 2017](<https://futurism.com/boston-dynamics-spotmini-robot>), can now open doors and hold them open.

While opening a door is slightly old hat for a Boston Dynamics robot — Atlas [barreled through a push-bar door](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVlhMGQgDkY&t=80s>) two years ago — SpotMini's operation is more eloquent. The robot uses its fifth appendage, an arm mounted essentially where a canine's head would be, to swiftly assess the door, locate and twist the handle, and pull the door open.

In a video released by Boston Dynamics, not only does the new-and-improved SpotMini open the door for itself, it even holds it open for its robot colleague. A portrait of professional collegiality, this is a big step up from the solo activities of [washing dishes or rolling over](<https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/robots/a21487/boston-dynamics-one-armed-robot/>).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUyU3lKzoio

Boston Dynamics has made steady progress in their efforts to build robots that move in a life-like manner, whether it's Atlas' *Homo sapiens*-like saunter or SpotMini's four-legged gallop. The same month they debuted their updated SpotMini, the company made headlines by releasing a video showing their Atlas robot's [back-flipping antics](<https://futurism.com/boston-dynamics-bipedal-robot-backflip>).

The SpotMini's latest development is confirmation that progress continues to march on behind Boston Dynamics's doors. But while biomimetic robots are certainly useful — the ability to copy human motion enables these robots to dexterously manipulate objects and navigate complex terrain — they still inspire more fear than awe in many people.

Outlets such as *[The Verge](<https://www.theverge.com/tldr/2018/2/12/17005060/boston-dynamics-robot-dog-open-door>)* and *[Popular Mechanics](<https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/robots/a17217364/boston-dynamics-newest-robot-trick-is-straight-out-of-jurassic-park/>)* have noted the similarities between SpotMini and the door-opening velociraptors of *Jurassic Park* splendor — not exactly a calming comparison, so if you envision these [robots taking over the world](<https://futurism.com/dark-future-autonomous-guard-dogs-black-mirror>), you're not alone.