From campfires to couches, dogs have been at humanity’s side for millennia. At South Shore University Hospital, that legacy is taking on a futuristic form: Spot, a robotic dog developed by Boston Dynamics, is assisting construction workers with tasks once limited to humans. Spot is being used to assist with construction on the Pavilion Project at South Shore University Hospital.
Adam Fyrer, a construction technology deployment associate at Suffolk, serves as Spot’s handler. He follows the robot around the site to ensure it is operating at peak efficiency. If something goes wrong, Fyrer steps in to troubleshoot and resolve the issue. He also acts as the point of contact between Spot’s vendor and the hospital’s construction team.
Spot is equipped with a 360-degree camera, similar to the technology used by Google Street View. Its primary task is to capture consistent, high-quality data that aids in progress tracking, reducing the workload on project teams. The images and information Spot collects can be accessed from anywhere in the world.
“A project like this would probably take a team member an hour a day — maybe more — to document every single room and area,”Fyrer said. “Spot can take that burden off of the project team.”
Fryer operates Spot using a tablet controller. Although the robot can walk a designated path on its own, Fyrer prefers to maintain control, especially since obstacles like doors and fences can be difficult for Spot to navigate. The robot typically conducts its site tours at the end of the day, after construction crews have left.
Boston Dynamics has continued to refine Spot since its initial release, with newer versions boasting upgraded sensors and higher-quality cameras. According to Fyrer, the company’s strength lies in its commitment to reinvestment and customer feedback.
By continually improving the platform and ensuring it remains durable and reliable in tough environments, Boston Dynamics is working to make Spot as rugged and effective as possible for the industries it serves.
Spot has received positive feedback at South Shore, and Fyrer said he looks forward to the day when artificial intelligence will be able to fully operate the robot with little human input. Currently, Spot uses OpenSpace, an AI program that maps photographs of the site to digital floor plans.

“When you think about a piece of technology like this, it’s only going to enhance how we work, Fyrer said. “It’s not going to take over jobs or put people out of work. It’s going to allow us to be better at what we do and focus our attention where it’s needed. That’s the long-term vision of robotics.”

Vinod Nair, Vice President of South Shore University Hospital Operations is eager about Spot’s contributions.

“This robot really embodies our mission as a health system,” Nair said. “Providing safe care is our top priority, and on a construction project of this magnitude — with more than 250 workers on site — the robot helps ensure that safety
remains at the forefront.”