Rover the robot dog patrols JLR’s Coventry EV building and testing facility

An autonomous robot dog called ‘Rover’ helps guard JLR’s EV building and testing facility in Coventry, United Kingdom, as battery testing ramps up ahead of the Range Rover Electric launch.

‘Rover’ patrols the facility up to 24 times a day and checks high-tech equipment is working to standard, allowing engineers to spend valuable time on maintenance.

The artificial intelligence (AI) enhanced robot dog spots potential operational issues and equipment wear and tear early, ensuring test and development continues to run on schedule.

Just like a regular guard dog, ‘Rover’ has its own kennel at the plant, where it periodically lives and charges its 50V battery between shifts.

However, Boston Dynamics’ robot can operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and doesn’t get distracted by loud sounds, unusual sights or smells, says JLR.

‘Rover’ has four legs and a robotic arm, can open doors, climb stairs and navigate high-traffic areas, while sensors help it detect gas leaks and determine battery temperatures.

Use of advanced robotics forms part of JLR’s wider 18 billion pound investment into its Reimagine strategy.

JLR intends electrifying all its brands (Range Rover, Defender, Discovery and Jaguar) by 2030.

JLR is now scoping out future use scenarios for a fleet of robotic quadrupeds across its entire global industrial footprint, including its Solihull plant where preparations are well underway for the launch of Ranger Rover Electric, and also where Jaguar will begin a new era as a pure-electric modern luxury brand – the first of which will be a four-door GT with a range of about 700km, priced from NZ$211,145 (100,000 pounds).

JLR will also have plasma cleaning robots, removing microscopic dust particles not otherwise visible to the human eye from battery cells ahead of bonding.