A robotic dog named Roscoe, part of the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad, is being hailed as a hero for its role in defusing a volatile standoff with an armed suspect. On March 6, Roscoe was sent into a home where a 30-year-old man, who had allegedly held his mother at knifepoint, was barricaded. The suspect shot the robot three times, partially disabling it, but state police noted that deploying Roscoe potentially saved the lives of officers and real dogs involved in the incident.
Boston Dynamics, the company behind the Spot robot, stated that this was the first time one of their robots had been shot. The company expressed relief that the only casualty was their robot, which has been sent for repairs, with a new unit to be provided to the state police.
The use of robots in law enforcement operations is on the rise nationwide. In New York City, Digidogs have been employed since 2023 to help de-escalate situations. Similarly, law enforcement agencies in Florida, Los Angeles, and other states have utilized these cybernetic hounds. Another company at the forefront of deploying AI-powered robots and emergency systems to deter crime across the US is Knightscope, Inc. (NASDAQ:KSCP), a leading innovator in robotics and AI technologies focused on public safety.
Knightscope’s autonomous security robots (ASRs) use a unique combination of self-driving technology, robotics, AI, and electric vehicles to provide humans with extra eyes, ears, and a voice on the ground. The company’s ASRs, Blue Light Tower emergency phones, and Automated Gunshot Detection (AGD) technology are already being utilized in public spaces including schools, hospitals, HOAs, casinos, transportation hubs, and places of worship.
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