This video is supported by KiwiCo. At the end of 2018, SpaceX started to increase
their activity in the quiet town of Boca Chica. It became clear that this was where they were going to start building and testing their massive Starship rockets. Over the last couple of years, SpaceX have
hired hundreds of new workers to create a constant 24 hour production line. But one of SpaceX’s newest recruits caught
everyone by surprise. Around the launch site, people started to
notice a large doghouse with the name Zeus written above it. After performing a pressure test on one of
their Starship prototypes, the launch area was covered in a cloud of liquid nitrogen
and a yellow figure appeared from the mist. This little guy is ‘Spot’, the robotic
dog made by Boston Dynamics. In this video, we’re going to look at why
SpaceX bought a robotic dog. We’re also going to look at what they are
doing with the dog and how similar robots could be crucial for the first crewed missions
to Mars. Over the last couple of years SpaceX have
been rapidly testing their Starship prototypes. This involves filling up the massive fuel
tanks with high pressure gas or liquid nitrogen in order to test that the tanks can safely
hold their target pressure. During these tests, it’s common for SpaceX to push the pressure of the vehicle until it breaks. If the vehicle is fully fueled with methane
and liquid oxygen, the results can be catastrophic. Because of this, the entire launch site needs
to be cleared and the public road that runs through Boca Chica needs to be closed. Once the test begins, no one is allowed within at least a mile of the launch site, including SpaceX personnel. This isn’t ideal for SpaceX since it can
take several hours to confirm that the launch pad is safe and that none of the fueling systems
are leaking gas. During this period of time, SpaceX misses
out on a lot of data which could help them understand how the vehicle failed. In order to maximize the data captured from
these tests, SpaceX bought 'Spot'. This robotic dog is incredibly agile with
the ability to climb stairs and deal with the roughest of terrains. Loaded with cameras, sensors and powerful
electric motors, it can use it’s vision to get around obstacles that an ordinary wheeled
robot would struggle with. Spot can be controlled remotely via wifi or
it can follow specific routes that have been programmed into its memory. The first proper test of Spot was during the SN7 test where SpaceX pushed a Starship prototype to failure. This test created an enormous cloud of liquid
nitrogen which remained at the launch site for a while, causing poor visibility. Amidst the cloud of liquid nitrogen, Zeus
was seen inspecting the remains of the prototype and the surrounding area. Zeus was most likely fitted with cameras and
various sensors in order to detect gas leaks from the nearby fueling lines. The cameras give SpaceX an idea of how the
vehicle failed and what needs to be done in order to clear the launch pad and fix any
damage to the fueling systems. This allows SpaceX to constantly improve the design of their Starship rocket between each prototype. Having Zeus at the scene of the accident allows SpaceX to capture as much information as possible without ever putting humans at risk. If SpaceX can use robotic dogs like this here
on Earth, they might also be useful when we finally send humans to Mars. The first SpaceX trip to Mars will almost
certainly be done without humans. The plan is to send multiple Starships to
the Martian surface with enough supplies and technology to set up a base and start mining
water and methane. SpaceX could take a group of similar robotic
creatures to handle a lot of the setup work. Although most of the heavy lifting could be
done by Starship itself with its onboard crane, many of the setup jobs will need a more precise
and delicate touch. The most common design for Martian robots
has always been a vehicle with wheels, but a 4 legged robot like Spot could provide an
advantage in getting over obstacles like large rocks on the Martian surface. Since it’s designed for Earth, Spot only
has a temperature range from 45 degrees down to -20. But perhaps in the future, SpaceX could collaborate
with Boston Dynamics to create a special version of Spot, designed for the Martian surface. One huge problem that comes with controlling
robots on Mars is the time delay. Since it takes around 14 minutes to send data
to Mars, controlling robots like the Curiosity rover is an incredibly slow process. Curiosity can only travel around 100 meters per day and each movement has to be carefully planned. The most useful scenario for Spot on Mars would be to aid humans while they are on the surface. Spot could be controlled in real time from
a Martian habitat, allowing equipment to be set up without subjecting humans to the harsh
Martian atmosphere. Once we finally send humans to Mars, they
will be able to record and process information at a much higher rate than the rovers that
currently occupy the planet. But as SpaceX has shown, humans have their
limits. And it seems that our journey into the future
of spaceflight won’t be done alone but hand in hand with our robotic friends. In order for this to happen, we need to create the next generation of engineers, technicians and scientists. KiwiCo creates super cool hands-on projects
designed to get kids thinking about concepts in STEAM like science, technology, engineering,
art and math. Each monthly crate is designed by experts
and tested by kids, and includes an interesting project to build like this infinity mirror. It’s back to school time, but this year
it’s a little different. Kids are having to do most of their learning
online. KiwiCo is a brilliant way to give them some hands-on learning and get them away from the computer. KiwiCo has 8 different subscription options,
with crates for different age groups and topics. Each project provides kids with hours of entertainment
and teaches them something new every month. Each box also comes with all the supplies
needed for that month’s project, so there's no need for extra runs to the store. To support Primal Space and try out KiwiCo, visit kiwico.com/primalspace to get your first month for free. Thank you very much for watching and I’ll
see you in the next video.
Having a robotic dog is better than having no robotic dog.
Because it's badass. Who wouldn't want a RoboDog roaming your rocket factory.
Having all terrain robots with cameras and an arm for tools/grabbing seems like a pretty useful addition to any burgeoning mars base!
The time to get an astronaut suited up and sent out just to shift that solar panel 5* or check for dust build up behind a greenhouse might not be worth it when you can have a robo-puppy scoot over there in 30 seconds.
Getting acquainted with the technology now and learning its nuances just seems like smart planning!
Good dog
Because it's smart!