Robot Dogs secure data centers, yields payoffs for operators

It's not just humans. The robots are moving in on dogs, too and they might enter the booming field of securing AI data centers.

As billions are invested by companies in expansive industrial campuses for cloud and AI technology, certain data center operators are trying out four-legged robots — roughly the size of large canines — to patrol boundaries, examine equipment, and identify potential problems before they become expensive.

"I recently visited a data center," Merry Frayne, senior director of product management at Boston Dynamics, the creator of Spot, told Business Insider. 

"In the last year or so, we've noticed a significant rise in interest from data centers, likely due to the investment in this area."

Robot dogs have already been employed by first responders, the military, and other industrial fields such as oil and mining. 

However, the speed at which data centers are expanding is creating a new niche for these mechanical quadrupeds.

Northern America alone has data centers amounting to 35 gigawatts under construction, per JLL, a commercial real estate company. These centers often span dozens of acres and require round-the-clock operation.

The opportunity is clear: Robotics firms such as Boston Dynamics and Ghost Robotics perceive a chance to deploy their robots for safeguarding essential infrastructure needing continuous observation. 

Likewise, data center managers are keen on achieving a quick ROI by using mobile robots that don’t tire or need a paycheck.

At Boston Dynamics, customers usually seek a robot capable of more than perimeter checks, Frayne noted. 

For data center clients, the focus is on industrial inspection, site mapping, and construction oversight, besides security. Spot might be used inside data centers to find thermal irregularities, leaks, water, odd noises, or security issues such as open doors, she mentioned.

The price of Spot varies from $175,000 as a base up to $300,000, based on the attached accessories, Frayne stated.

"Typically, our clients see a return in two years," she remarked. "It's often closer to 18 months when considering direct savings. This doesn’t account for the data's value."