Massachusetts State Police Tested Out Boston Dynamics’ Spot The Robot Dog

Massachusetts State Police are testing ways it could use four-legged Boston Dynamics robots, known as Spot, and performed the tests in silence, without attracting much public attention. Although the robots are not yet armed, the discovered documentation points to the potential future of RoboCop culture, within which robotic units would patrol the streets and dangerous areas instead of real track dogs.

The reports state that robots have been in the police ranks since April 2019, and have been involved in at least two police incidents, but it is unclear how, since there are no details about the incidents. It is unknown to what extent the robots were autonomous, but it is assumed that they are still under human control. Robotic assistants could react in dangerous situations in the future, thus protecting their human counterparts.

Massachusetts police are currently the only ones using Boston Dynamics robots for security purposes, and the company expects robots to find themselves in more serious positions within the next 5 to 10 years and be the first to respond to emergency calls terrain safe for human cops. Robots could also be tasked with checking suspicious packages, detecting toxic gases in crisis situations and other dangerous situations, which should have the effect of reducing police deaths.