Scientists from the University of California, Berkeley have modified a mini Cheetah quadrupedal robot, originally designed by a team from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), into a robotic guide dog.

To guide the visually impaired through narrow passageways and around obstacles, the team of scientists equipped the mini Cheetah robots with a laser-ranging system for mapping its surroundings.

Source: Anxing Xiao et al./University of California, Berkeley

The scientists suggest that the leash guided robodog would eliminate the cost and training associated with actual guide dogs.

The study, “Robotic Guide Dog: Leading a Human with Leash-Guided Hybrid Physical Interaction,” appears in the journal arXiv.

To see how the robodog maneuvers through narrow spaces, watch the accompanying video that appears courtesy of the University of California, Berkeley.