Puppy robot 'Spot' gets kicked but does not fall over

Spot the robotic dog can be kicked and does not fall. Credit: Boston Robotics.

Boston Dynamics, a robotics company owned by tech-giant Google, have released footage of their latest robotic dog, which they call "Spot".

The four legged robo-pet can run, climb stairs, trot, sit next to its owner and stay on all fours even when it is kicked.

The strange machine, which has a small sensor instead of a head, moves remarkably like an animal.

This sensor allows it to recover as quickly as possible when it is kicked off balance.

The company, which has previously worked with the DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) in the US, have not said how they hope to use their new invention, or indeed why they created it.

Previous inventions include a robot designed to travel 20 miles on rough terrain whilst carrying 400 Ibs of load.

The robot was developed with funding from DARPA and the US Marine Corps.

They have also invented a robotic cheetah robot that they say can run faster than Usain Bolt.

Working with the US army, they also developed a sand flea jumping robot, capable of jumping 30 feet into the air.