National Taiwan University Professor Kuo Chung-hsien's (郭重顯) research team unveiled Taiwan's first independent research and development AI robot dog (NTU DogBot) on Wednesday. The team will conduct field application testing, and complete the robot dog’s stair-climbing ability by the end of the year.
Professor Kuo, a mechanical engineering professor, has been investing in the research and development of AI-powered robot dogs since 2022. The team’s robot dog prototypes are named Oliver and Dustin. Oliver is 54 cm long and weighs 16 kg, and Dustin is 93 cm long and weighs 40 kg. The robots, controlled via Bluetooth or AI, aim to tackle Taiwan's labor shortage.
Oliver and Dustin both have AI and autonomous navigation capabilities, but look to serve different purposes. Oliver is equipped with locomotion teaching and AI vision functions, allowing users to interact via voice and emotion expression recognition, making it suitable for home use. Dustin is equipped with inspection sensors and is designed for inspections and delivery, making it suitable for industrial tasks.
Unlike some foreign alternatives, these robots are affordable, customizable, and expandable. Kuo highlighted the role of AI in navigation, patrol, and human interaction for future innovation. Medium-term goals include preparedness for outdoor applications, while long-term objectives involve hazardous environments such as disaster rescue and plant inspections.