MCL conducts trials with Boston Dynamics' robot Spot integrated with CBRNE sensors

Boston Dynamics' agile mobile robot Spot equipped with EOD during testing conducted by MCL and the UK MoD. (Crown copyright )

Marlborough Communications Ltd (MCL) is conducting trials with Boston Dynamics' Spot – the agile mobile robot integrated with CBRNE (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive) material sensors and LIDAR (light detection and ranging) scanners – Hayley Roberts, business development manager at MCL, confirmed to Janes on 19 June.

Roberts did not mention further details about these tests, but said on 12 June that a “toolbox of sensors” can be integrated onto Spot which could include jammers, CBRNE sensors, cameras, or an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) disrupter.

“We are building the payloads at the moment, so think anywhere you don't want to go as a human, particularly within the urban environment,” James King, projects director at MCL, told Janes on 12 June.

MCL partnered with Boston Dynamics, European Logistic Partners (ELP) GmbH, and the UK's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) to adapt the system with a robotic arm and other tools for EOD use. In February, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) led a series of trials where robotics systems, including Spot, were tested on detecting and defusing explosive threats. The total cost of Spot with the robotic arm is around GBP200,000 (USD274,648), said Roberts.

MCL representatives confirmed that there are no contracts yet to deliver some of the different payloads integrated with Spot but there is significant interest in the robot being equipped with either sensors or effectors. Some of the other use cases include mapping terrains and delivering supplies.