A robot dog, named Spot, has been going for walkies around York Minster – and not just for fun.
He’s among the latest technology aimed at preventing disasters at major heritage sites, and could be used if an incident similar to the 1984 Minster fire were to occur today.
That blaze, believed to have been caused by a lightning strike, nearly destroyed the cathedral and caused £2.25 million-worth of damage.
York Minster has welcomed Historic England’s geospatial survey team to showcase some of the cutting-edge technology now available in the wake of a disaster.
Nowadays, a disaster response could see Spot, the robot dog, along with a flying drone, being first on the scene.
Both machines can be remotely operated, allowing their human controllers to access conditions from a safe distance.
Made by US-based robotics company Boston Dynamics, Spot can access spaces without putting human lives at risk, all while providing detailed information about its surroundings.
Spot is capable of handling rough terrain and stairs, and can even re-balance itself should it be knocked over.
These abilities would be crucial in responding to a disaster on the scale of the 1984 fire.
The Historic England team also uses a laser scanner, mounted on the robot dog’s back, which scans millions of points and could be used to capture the building’s condition in detail.
Jon Bedford, principal geospatial surveyor at Historic England, said: “When disaster strikes a historic building, every minute counts.
“Having used these tools in many varied high-risk environments, I’ve seen first-hand how they can navigate debris, climb stairs, and reach elevated structures that would normally require expensive and potentially risky methods of access.
“This means we can make faster, better-informed decisions about protecting a heritage site.
“Our drones and mobile robot, Spot, are tools that would have been invaluable during the 1984 fire. They aren’t just clever gadgets – they’re helping us safeguard our heritage and keep people safe.”
Historic England’s drones use remote cameras and laser scanning tools to allow quick and easy access to areas which would otherwise be difficult or impossible to reach.
Previously, extensive scaffolding would have been required to evaluate conditions, but now a drone can safely fly within the Minster to create an accurate and explorable model of the space within a matter of minutes.
Laura Cotter, Research and Innovation Manager at York Minster fund, the organisation which oversaw the fundraising campaign for the restoration of the fire-damaged South Transept, has witnessed firsthand how vital this technology can be.
She has travelled worldwide to learn how different heritage sites are using technology to respond to today’s challenges.
Ms. Cotter said, “During a visit to Notre Dame in 2019, only nine weeks after the fire, I saw robots being utilised to move debris from beneath the fallen tower.”
During the anniversary of the 1984 York Minster fire, Ms. Cotter was reminded of the lengths people went to in order to rescue the Minster’s fabric and contents without robotic assistance.
She said: “I considered what innovations in technology could be utilised today to capture vital data, in unpredictable and hazardous conditions, to inform repair priorities and approaches.
“The 1984 fire caused the rose window to shatter into 40,000 pieces and took four years to access and repair. Without extensive scaffolding we still do not have the ability to access the rose window to monitor how the repairs are performing.
“It is incredibly difficult to reach this area, even with modern drone technology, without putting the Minster’s precious medieval glass at risk of collision. Technology will continue to advance, and it will change the way heritage buildings are monitored and maintained around the world.”