Boston Dynamics is teaching its robot dog to fight back against humans

'Testing robustness' apparently crucial to SpotMini's development, with machine showing it won't be perturbed by human interference

It appears that, just like their flesh and blood counterparts, you just can't put a good robot dog down, even if you're a human fighting it for control of a door.

Boston Dynamics' well-mannered four-legged machine SpotMini has already proved that it can easily open a door and walk through unchallenged, but now the former Google turned SoftBank robotics firm is teaching its robo-canines to fight back.