Tomago Aluminium test runs first AI featured robot ‘Spot’ to replace humans from hazardous tasks in smelter

The Australian primary aluminium producer, Tomago Aluminium has deployed on work a robot dog named ‘Spot’ with more advanced technology.

The introduction of Spot in Tomago makes it Australia’s first aluminium smelter to trial the new AI technology, with impromptu demonstrations to showcase its unbelievable capabilities.

The price of Spot comes around with a cost of US$200,000 each and weighs a little over 32 kilograms. This is one of the newest developments in the field of robotics which has unimaginable agility and can navigate all types of landscapes with extraordinary mobility, carrying out day to day inspections in the most inaccessible places.

Michelle Whyte, the Business Improvement Superintendent, “Using Spot, previously hazardous tasks requiring specially-trained people in protective clothing can be done easily with remote operators controlling Spot via tablets while it safely performs its tasks.”

Spot has been developed by the American robotics company Boston Dynamics (founded in 1992, now owned by Hyundai Motor Group) and was put through a series of essential tests in the smelter’s electrical substation and potrooms while employees took a turn at the controls to operate the robot across a vivid obstacle course consisting uneven ground, water puddles and stairs.

Spot was also navigated through strong magnetic fields to check it remained unaffected by electronic interference.  

The robotic enigma passed all the tests taken with valour and pride.

As part of the testing protocol, Spot was subjected to a lonesome walk with previously programmed routes or a ‘learned path’ around the facility to see if it could carry out all the tasks without any assistance. Spot passed this test too.

Substation electricians from Tomago were able to send the robot inside the switchyard to perform thermal imaging inspections while they were live-streaming images from Spot’s built-in stereo cameras to their laptops and tablets.

Working alongside Spot proved to be an exciting experience for those involved in the clan, with substation supervisor Shane McDonald referring to the experience as “eye-opening”.

“We were amazed at how autonomous it was,” Mr McDonald said.

“Spot was very stable across all areas of the yard. Gravel, cable pits and stairs; nothing presented a problem for Spot. We put a bin in front of him and he just stepped around it.”

Mr McDonald added that Spot would beneficial for the business with a wide range of uses including automated thermography, high-resolution photo or video work and accessing areas that currently require isolating before employees can safely access them.

In addition, Spot can carry up to fourteen kilograms of equipment and power it up, saving technicians the horror of hurling cables and portable power banks with them.

Spot also has a 3D scanner attached to its back which can from time to time give the industry owners a complete idea of the degradation graph of each machine.

It has the biggest advantage in its flexible body and enduring bones which can brush off debris from hazardous areas, making it eligible to walk inside ducting to inspect for wear, detect and investigate spills, observe live switching and carrying-out measurements and inspections in hot or difficult conditions.

Tiphanie Costeur, the Interface design and development engineer for Brisbane-based Corematic and also Boston Dynamic’s Australian agent, detailed Spot as “a very new development” in robotics and said the version demonstrated at Tomago was the Spot ‘Enterprise’ model, the very recent variant.

Tiphanie further added, “Spot has many uses and can be used for a variety of tasks. There is no limitation for Spot’s use – creativity is the key.”