Two of Siena's beloved four-legged community members met up for an unusual, yet endearing playdate.
The American Kennel Club recognizes 205 distinct breeds, each with its own traits and temperament. One universal characteristic among them is that all dog breeds must actually be... dogs. That detail aside, let's first look at the "tail" of the tape between Siena's popular pooches.
Baloo
Siena's first live mascot
Breed: Saint Bernard – a loyal, affectionate, gentle giant known as the lifesaving dog of the Swiss Alps; heavy-boned, broad feet, with a massive head, and intelligent expression.
Capabilities: Stirs Siena passion everywhere he goes, melts student stress, and is a very good boy.
Coconut
"Pet" in the Computer Science department
Breed: Unitree Go2 EDU quadruped – an advanced research-grade platform equipped with 4D LiDAR, depth cameras, onboard AI processing, and dynamic joint actuators.
Capabilities: 3D spatial mapping (SLAM), autonomous navigation, obstacle avoidance, terrain adaptation, and real-time sensor visualization.
Coconut is a tool (let's say lab partner) in the CSIS-370 robotics course. Students are able to write low-level Python code in ROS (the Robot Operating System) to program motor kinematics, sensor perception, and custom autonomous routines (such as gait control, dancing, and navigation). The idea was hatched to organize a meet and sniff with Coconut and Baloo, and as Ting Liu, Ph.D., associate professor of computer science noted, it was "fascinating."
"Baloo adjusted quickly with a calm and cool attitude, while Coconut strode smoothly alongside him," said Liu. "Bringing our robotics research out of the lab and onto campus walkways between Roger Bacon Hall and the library transforms complex technology into something tangible, inspiring, and fun for the entire Siena community."
"This really was something you don't see everyday! I am very grateful to be able to work with the Computer Science department for anything they offer," said Mason Hayward '29. "My first year at Siena was made truly special with the opportunities that they gave me, such as leading the 2026 Siena University High School Programming Contest! To all students, get involved in something! You never know how something that may seem small can lead to something grand."
"Bringing cutting-edge quadruped robotics out of the computer science lab and into the heart of campus is immensely rewarding," said Liu. "Seeing students across all majors pause, ask questions, and engage with Coconut reminds us that technology is at its best when it inspires curiosity and connects our community. At Siena, our students don't just study AI and robotics in theory - they actively code, innovate, and share these platforms firsthand."
