- Massachusetts state police say a suspect shot a Boston Dynamics robotic canine throughout a SWAT standoff.
- The firm stated it was the primary time one in all its robotic dogs took a bullet.
- Police reform advocates have criticized robotic police dogs prior to now for being overpriced and ineffective.
Man’s finest buddy (in Robot type) would take a bullet for you, apparently.
State troopers used three robots developed by Boston Dynamics to flush out a suspect hiding in a residence after taking pictures at police in Barnstable, Massachusetts earlier this month, state police stated.
One of them was a four-legged SPOT model named “Roscoe,” in keeping with a police news release.
The suspect knocked over Roscoe and shot the robotic 3 times with a rifle when he discovered it roaming round inside his home.
He then opened hearth on two bomb-disarming robots exterior, hitting an above-ground pool earlier than police bombarded the home with tear gasoline and apprehended the person, in keeping with the discharge.
“The incident offered a stark instance of the advantages of cellular platforms able to opening doorways and ascending stairs in tactical missions involving armed suspects,” police stated.
Police use of robotic “dogs” has faced scrutiny from critics and police reform advocates who say they’re overpriced and ineffective. The SPOT mannequin retails at just under $75,000 at its base mannequin. Former New York Mayor Bill DeBlasio known as the robots from Boston Dynamics “creepy” and “alienating” when requested in regards to the NYPD’s use of the dogs in 2021, in keeping with The New York Times.
The discourse across the robots picked up in August 2023 when a unadorned man was captured on video dragging a Houston Police robotic — additionally made by Boston Dynamics — into his home throughout a SWAT standoff, simply overpowering the gadget.
Massachusetts state police say their robotic canine offered “critically vital room clearance and situational consciousness capabilities” through the standoff and prevented police from needing to ship people or actual dogs into the home, preserving officers out of the road of fireside.
Boston Dynamics didn’t instantly return a request for remark from Business Insider. The firm advised The Associated Press in an announcement that that is the primary of its robotic dogs that has been shot.
“We are relieved that the one casualty that day was our robotic,” the corporate stated. “It’s an amazing instance of how cellular robots like Spot can be utilized to save lots of lives.”
Police despatched the robotic to Boston Dynamics to take away the bullets, and the corporate will ship a brand new mannequin to the state police, in keeping with the report.
