INTERNATIONAL – Robot dogs will soon be patrolling the New York subway. The NYPD (New York Police Department) held a press conference on Tuesday, April 11 in Times Square with Mayor Eric Adams, to announce the deployment of new technologies intended to help its officers on a daily basis, in very specific missions.
As you can see in the video at the top of this article, the NYPD has decided to reintegrate Digidog, a duplicate of the famous four-legged robot Spot developed by the American company Boston Dynamics. This 32.5 kg metal dog was used as a test by police officers in 2020. Following a hostage situation in the Bronx, he helped officers determine that there was no one inside the building, allowing them to intervene. But voices were raised against its use highlighting confidentiality issues. The NYPD then removed him from its troops.
Digidog makes an appearance. NYPD says the department spent $750k of forfeiture money to purchase the technology. M…
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Two other pilot patrols have also been announced: the K5 robot, fully autonomous, intended to carry out vigils in defined areas (parks, campuses, businesses, metro stations, for example). In the shape of an egg, it will be able to follow a route thanks to its sensors and above all recharge its batteries alone in a specific place before leaving on a mission. He is accompanied by Guardian HX, a GPS robot capable of tracking any vehicle, even in motion, so as not to lose track of it.
Elected in early 2022, New York Mayor Eric Adams has made security his priority: “ A few people had objected in the past (to Digidog), and we gave in. That’s not how I operate. I look above all at what is best for the city. » he said in his press briefing before adding: “ The technology exists, being afraid of it is counterproductive. She will help us meet the challenge of keeping this city safe.”
NYPD Department Chief Jeff Maddrey said officers will onboard the K5 robot in the summer of 2023. It will be used in Times Square and on the subway as part of a six-month pilot project with an officer in monitoring.
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