Princeton Students’ Viral Robot Dance with Boston Dynamics Sparks Debate on Robotics in Entertainment, Education : Science : Tech Times
Princeton students gained widespread attention after they taught a Boston Dynamics robot dance moves, sparking discussions about its potential beyond traditional uses. The students enrolled in a “Robots in Human Ecology” course explored civilian applications for the robot Spot.
Exploring the Intersection of Robotics, Entertainment
(Photo : PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP /AFP via Getty Images)
One notable project involved teaching Spot line-dancing and ballet routines, which garnered over 7 million views on TikTok across multiple videos. Interesting Engineering reported that this viral success has prompted conversations about the role of robotics in entertainment and education.
A student project gained traction on social media when the team launched a TikTok account for the robot dubbed “SPOTlight,” sharing musical videos starring Spot. Student Gigi Schadrack engages in line dancing with the robot in a lab, synchronously jumping on cue. Another video features her ballet dancing alongside the robot.
Schadrack sees the TikTok videos as a means to simplify robotics, gather information, provide entertainment, and initiate discussions about human-robot interactions. In her perspective, as a dancer, Schadrack wanted to explore the translation of bipedal movements into quadrupedal ones.
Another student, Wasif Sami, delved into an anthropological examination of the project and its reception by the public. The viral sensation prompted a diverse array of comments and responses.
As a group, they pondered how their light-hearted, performance-oriented content intersects with the broader implications of technology. Responding to audience feedback taught them to strategically position their work within the broader context of robotics and be receptive to the varied voices and opinions expressed online.
Boston Dynamics’ Transition
Vasumathi Venkat, a junior studying electrical and computer engineering, explained that the robot operates similarly to a phone or video game controller and doesn’t require food, just a charging dock.
Students discuss the potential roles, meanings, and ethical considerations surrounding robots in society. They gain practical experience by working with the robot to create ethical and beneficial applications for the campus community.
This course is funded by the 250th Anniversary Fund for Innovation in Undergraduate Education. It is guided by Alexander Glaser, an associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and international affairs, and Ryo Morimoto, an assistant professor of anthropology and the Richard Stockton Bicentennial Preceptor.
Morimoto explained that Boston Dynamics, despite its military ties in the past, is now shifting its focus towards civilian and commercial uses of its technology. He highlighted the company’s efforts to distance itself from military applications through an anti-weaponization policy.
Last year, around 1,000 Spot robots were being used globally, primarily for industrial purposes. Although Boston Dynamics doesn’t currently disclose the price of a Spot robot on its website, it was nearly $75,000 in 2020.
According to Boston Dynamics’ lead product designer, Leland Hepler, Spot’s primary objective is to alleviate human apprehension and foster familiarity with the robot. This is accomplished through various visual cues, including its vibrant yellow hue, directional lights to signal Spot’s movements, and dog-like quadruped structure.
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