The quadrupedal robot 'Spot,' created by Hyundai Motor Group's robotics corporation Boston Dynamics, showcased a performance in the NBC audition program 'America's Got Talent.'
On the 11th (local time), Hyundai Motor Group posted a video of five Spot robots, commonly referred to as robotic dogs, dancing on 'America's Got Talent.' In the video, the five Spots danced to Queen's 'Don’t Stop Me Now' music.
Spots gathered together and then dispersed, swaying their bodies from side to side. They demonstrated movements that made it appear as if they were singing along to the rhythm and lyrics while moving their front legs. At the beginning of the performance, one Spot suddenly stopped and sat down, but the remaining four successfully completed the stage in about 1 minute and 30 seconds.
The judges and audience gave a standing ovation. One judge noted, "It might have been better if one robot had remained still, as it would showcase how difficult the performance is." When another judge asked, "Can it be fixed?" a Boston Dynamics researcher responded, "Of course. There’s a saying at Boston Dynamics: 'Build, break, and fix.'" At that moment, the Spot that had sat down suddenly got up and danced again.
All four judges rated the Spot performance as 'yes.' 'America's Got Talent' is a program where ordinary people participate to showcase their talents in singing, dancing, magic, and impersonations. Judges evaluate performances as either 'yes' or 'no,' and if a participant receives three or more 'yes' votes, they advance to the next round.
A representative from Boston Dynamics mentioned about Spot, "We applied software specialized in dance movements, allowing for smooth and emotional expressions. If invited back to the show in the future, we will present a new performance utilizing Spot."