• News Views Podcast Learn team about contribute republish AIhub resources AIhub events News Views Podcast Learn News Views Podcast Learn Meet the AI-powered robotic dog ready to help with emergency response Prototype robotic dogs built by Texas A&M University engineering students and powered by artificial intelligence demonstrate their advanced navigation capabilities. • Photo credit: Logan Jinks/Texas A&M University College of Engineering. • By Jennifer Nichols Meet the robotic dog with a memory like an elephant and the instincts of a seasoned first responder. • Developed by Texas A&M University engineering students, this AI-powered robotic dog doesn’t just follow commands. • Designed to navigate chaos with precision, the robot could help revolutionize search-and-rescue missions, disaster response and many other emergency operations. • Sandun Vitharana, an engineering technology master’s student, and Sanjaya Mallikarachchi, an interdisciplinary engineering doctoral student, spearheaded the invention of the robotic dog.
Article Summaries:
- Texas A&M University engineering students have unveiled a prototype robotic dog that uses a multimodal large‑language model (MLLM) for memory‑driven navigation. The robot processes voice commands and camera input to plan paths, identify objects, and adjust in real time, allowing it to climb obstacles and navigate chaotic environments. Designed for search‑and‑rescue and disaster response, the system can recall previously traversed routes, improving efficiency in GPS‑denied or unmapped areas. Beyond emergency use, the team sees potential applications in hospitals, warehouses, and other large facilities where autonomous navigation could enhance operations.
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