As soon as Spot powered up and took his first steps, people started gathering around. You could see that familiar expression on their faces. Half curiosity, half “okay I need to see this up close.” We started by showing some basic movements, but once Spot got warmed up and we let him do his more advanced moves, the whole place lit up. Phones came out immediately, and people leaned in like they were watching something they’d waited to finally see in person.
One of the most unexpected highlights was Spot dancing in front of a live band. We didn’t plan it at all, the music started, Spot started moving, and suddenly he was vibing like he’d been practicing backstage. The band loved it, the crowd loved it, and honestly, so did we. It’s not every day your robot dog becomes a spontaneous concert act.
Left: A group of children sitting on the floor watching Spot during a demo.
Middle: Spot robot dancing near musicians performing with drums, saxophone, and double bass.
Right: A person guiding Spot down a corridor lined with exhibition booths.
When he wasn’t dancing, Spot explored Tampere-talo just like any curious visitor. And people really wanted to control him, some asked shyly if they could try, and others walked straight up to us with pure determination. Kids especially took over the whole situation. They even started their own little exercise session: Spot did a push up, the kids did a push up. Spot leans, the kids lean. It was chaotic, adorable, and surprisingly coordinated.
Throughout the day, people kept stopping us to ask questions. Not just the “wow that’s cool” type of questions, but real, thoughtful ones about how Spot works, what sensors he uses, what we do with him in our research at Tampere University, and how robots like him fit into future workplaces. It was great seeing how eager people were to learn and how naturally they connected with the robot. Many took selfies, videos, or just stood there grinning while Spot did his thing.
What I loved most was how quickly the barrier between “tech demo” and “shared experience” disappeared. Spot wasn’t just a robot on display, he became part of the event. People treated him like a performer, a teammate, sometimes even a fluffy friend (even though he’s definitely more steel than fur). Some tried to teach him tricks, some asked if he could fetch (sadly no), and some talked to him like he might answer.
Left: Spot robot standing in a conference hall aisle, facing the stage during a presentation.
Middle: A person holding a controller tablet while operating Spot in the event lobby.
Right: Spot robot positioned next to a Tampere University booth with “Human Potential Unlimited” on the counter.
By the end of the day, Spot was basically a celebrity. He danced, walked, exercised, posed for photos, and gave hundreds of people their first real interaction with a robot like him. And we had so many great conversations about robotics, research, and the future of human-robot interaction.
IT-päivät 2025 was full of energy, curiosity, and genuinely enthusiastic people, the perfect place to bring Spot. Judging by the reactions, he’ll definitely be making more appearances soon. Until then, we’ll keep him charged, stretched, and ready for his next adventure.
Written by Veronika
