- Massachusetts State Police say a suspect shot a Boston Dynamics robot dog during a SWAT standoff.
- The company said it was the first time one of its robot dogs had taken a ball.
- Police reform advocates have criticized robotic police dogs in the past for being too expensive and ineffective.
Apparently, man’s best friend (in robot form) would take a bullet for you.
State troopers used three robots developed by Boston Dynamics to flush out a suspect hiding in a residence after shooting at police in Barnstable, Massachusetts, earlier this month, state police said.
One of them was a four-legged SPOT model named “Roscoe,” according to a police news release.
The suspect knocked Roscoe down and shot the robot three times with a gun when he found it wandering inside his home.
He then opened fire on two bomb-defusing robots outside, hitting an above-ground swimming pool before police bombarded the house with tear gas and apprehended the man, according to the statement.
“This incident serves as a prime example of the benefits of mobile platforms capable of opening doors and climbing stairs during tactical missions involving armed suspects,” police said.
Police use of robot “dogs” has faced scrutiny from critics and police reform advocates, who say they are too expensive and ineffective. The SPOT model retails for just under $75,000 for its base model. Former New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio called Boston Dynamics’ robots “scary” and “alienating” when asked about the New York Police Department’s use of dogs in 2021, according to the New York Times.
Discourse around robots reignited in August 2023 when a naked man was filmed dragging a Houston police robot — also made by Boston Dynamics — into his home during a SWAT standoff, easily overpowering the robot. device.
Massachusetts State Police say its robot dog provided “critically important room clearance and situational awareness capabilities” during the standoff and prevented police from needing to dispatch humans or real dogs in the house, keeping officers out of the line of sight.
Boston Dynamics did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. The company told The Associated Press in a statement that it was the first of its robot dogs to be put down.
“We are relieved that the only casualty that day was our robot,” the company said. “This is a great example of how mobile robots like Spot can be used to save lives.”
Police sent the robot to Boston Dynamics to remove the bullets, and the company will send a new model to state police, according to the report.
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