The newest weapon in the U.S. Secret Service’s toolbox is Spot, a robotic dog created by Boston Dynamics.
Recently, the gadget circled the grounds of President-elect Donald Trump’s Palm Beach, Florida, Mar-a-Lago club.
They lack weaponry; if their routes are pre-programmed, they can all be operated remotely or mechanically.
A sign that reads “DO NOT PET” is displayed on each of Spot’s legs to alert onlookers.
No one is interested in petting these mechanical dogs. One Menlo College political scientist remarked, “They don’t look cute.”
TikTok users have been reacting to a video of Spot strutting over the property in various ways, from nice and cute to frightening. It has been used as material for late-night television jokes in the United States. Its aim, however, is serious business.
According to a U.S. Secret Service spokesman, “protecting the president-elect is a top priority.”
Why is the Secret Service using robotic dogs now?
Trump was the victim of two alleged assassination attempts in the months preceding the U.S. presidential election. Both events happened at the Mar-a-Lago golf course in September and at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July.
The Secret Service refused to comment on specific queries on the employment of robotic canines in Trump’s security detail, including when the agency started deploying the device at his principal residence, citing “concern for operational security.”
Boston Dynamics said the Secret Service employed its Spot robot, but the company declined to comment on specific queries.
The agency’s drive “to upgrade the technology that can enhance the ability to detect and deter” was made more urgent by a former Secret Service agent who is currently the CEO of a security and risk management company and believes that Trump has been the target of assassination attempts.
Robotic dogs are long overdue at Mar-a-Lago, where a large portion of the property is exposed. He stated that “they can cover a lot more area” than people alone and that he anticipates seeing the gadgets more frequently.
Who else is using robotic dogs?
The Secret Service isn’t the only one. Around the world, police enforcement and military organizations are increasingly using robotic dogs as tools.
According to Boston Dynamics promotional materials, a bomb squad in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, which purchased Spot in the spring, uses the equipment to inspect possible bombs.
According to Wired, despite criticism of “a dystopian overreach of police power,” the New York Police Department added robotic dogs to its force last year.
According to the Kyiv Post, Ukraine has used them to carry out surveillance in the ongoing battle triggered by Russia’s invasion in 2022.
What are the capabilities of Spot?
Spot has a reputation for being agile. It can pass through confined rooms, climb up and down stairs, and even open doors.
However, one of the main reasons so many agencies are eager to spend up to $75,000 (£59,000) on the device is its ability to identify possible dangers.
According to the Secret Service, the robotic canines are “equipped with surveillance technology and an array of advanced sensors that support our protective operations. “
According to Boston Dynamics marketing materials, the device has several cameras that create a 3D representation of its environment. It can also have other features like heat detection.
How are robotic dogs controlled?
However, without a human master, none of this would be possible.
An engineering professor at George Mason University who oversees the Autonomy and Robotics Center stated, “They have a joystick controlling the robot dog as it walks around.” Additionally, Spot can go autonomously along pre-planned routes.
Like their human and real-life counterparts, robotic dogs are focused on things other than sights, noises, or smells.
What are the potential vulnerabilities of robotic dogs?
However, the gadgets can be removed even with their unique features.
“All you need to do is mist its ‘face’ with Aqua Net hairspray,” the lecturer advised. “And that would be sufficient to prevent the cameras from functioning properly.”
Are robotic dogs becoming weaponized?
Although competitors are experimenting with armed models, the robotic dog spotted at Mar-a-Lago is not.
The lecturer goes on to say, “People are trying to weaponize these dogs,” referring to a Chinese model that was brought up at a recent robotics convention and had a gun attached.
Will robotic dogs replace humans in security operations?
One expert compared the gadgets to assisted-driving technology seen in some cars and stated that they will not replace people.
“We are not very confident in cars’ ability to drive themselves.”
Spot has been spotted roaming with Secret Service members at Mar-a-Lago.
In the event of a technological malfunction, the expert stated, “We still do need those humans behind the scenes to use human judgment and be able to jump in.”
