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The first robotic patrol dogs from Boston Dynamics appeared in service with the US Secret Service, reports “Voice of the People” with reference to Air Force.
A futuristic-looking robotic dog was spotted patrolling the grounds of President-elect Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida.
The electric dog named Spot can be fully automated if you plan a route for him in advance, or controlled remotely in manual mode.
The inscriptions on each of the metal legs warn: “Do not iron!”
“I don’t know who would want to pet such a dog. She doesn’t look nice at all,” says Melissa Michelson, a political scientist at Menlo College in California.
A video of Spot patrolling the resort became a hit on TikTok, causing mixed reactions, with user comments ranging from “cute” to “cool” to “creepy.”
The video made jokes on all American late-night comedy shows, but his mission does not cause laughter.
“Our top priority is the safety of the President-elect,” Anthony Guglielmi, head of public affairs for the US Secret Service, said in a statement obtained by the BBC.
Over the past few months, during the US election campaign, there have been two public attempts on Trump’s life.
Robot dogs are used in a variety of fields
According to Williams, Boston Dynamics robots are increasingly used by military and law enforcement agencies around the world.
A bomb squad in Pennsylvania is using a robot to check suspicious packages for explosives.
Last year, mechanical dogs were added to the New York Police Department’s roster, despite complaints from some citizens that police powers were being “exceeded to dystopian levels.”
The Kyiv Post reports that Boston Dynamics dogs are also used in the war in Ukraine: they help Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers conduct reconnaissance.
Four-legged scout
Spot is known for his agility and resourcefulness. The robot can go up and down stairs, navigate very narrow spaces, and even open unlocked doors.
However, its attractiveness to intelligence agencies – despite the very sobering price tag (about 75 thousand dollars per copy) – is explained precisely by Spot’s ability to detect potential threats at an early stage.
Secret Service communications chief Guglielmi said the patrol robots are “equipped with surveillance technologies and a variety of advanced sensors that help us conduct protective operations.”
The Boston Dynamics website reports that Spot is equipped with several cameras that allow the dog to study the surrounding landscape, creating a three-dimensional map of space in his “head”.
A robot can perform its functions only with the participation of a person and under his supervision.
As already mentioned, Spot can indeed automatically move along routes predetermined by the dog, but in this case it has an exclusively symbolic, intimidating function.
Plus, despite Spot’s many impressive features, it’s fairly easy to disable it. It is enough to spray his “face” with hair spray.
How do robotic patrol dogs influence public perception of security technologies, and what role does their design play in acceptance among the populace?
World-Today-News.com is excited to have Melissa Michelson, a political scientist at Menlo College in California, and Doug Williams, a robotics expert from MIT, as our guests for today’s interview. Our topic of discussion is the recent deployment of robotic patrol dogs by the US Secret Service.
Melissa, you mentioned in your quote that these robotic dogs don’t exactly look “nice.” How does their appearance impact how people perceive their use in security measures? Do you think that appearances are important when it comes to public acceptance of these technologies?
Doug, could you tell us more about the capabilities and features of these robotic dogs? How do they compare to traditional security measures, and what makes them more effective?
Melissa, the article mentions that there have been two public attempts on President-elect Trump’s life. Do you think that the use of these robots is a necessary precaution, or is it an overreaction to potential threats?
Doug, you work in the field of robotics. How do you see the future of these robots in law enforcement and security? Are there any potential risks or ethical concerns that we should be aware of?
Melissa, your research focuses on public opinion and perception. How do you think the general public will react to the increasing use of robotic security measures? Do you think they will embrace them or resist them?
Doug, could you elaborate on the other fields where these Boston Dynamics robots are being used? Are there any specific examples that you find particularly fascinating or significant?
Melissa, the article mentions that robotic dogs are being used in the war in Ukraine. What potential benefits do you see from using these robots in conflict situations? Are there any drawbacks that we should be aware of?
Doug, you mentioned in the interview that these robots can be disabled with hair spray. Do you think this is a significant vulnerability, or is it a minor issue when considering their overall effectiveness?
Lastly, what do you think the role of human-robot interactions will be in the field of security? Should we be aiming for complete automation, or do humans still have an important place in these systems?
