Roscoe helped defuse an armed criminal.
The Massachusetts State Police reported a unique case demonstrating the unconventional use of technology in emergency situations. We are talking about a robot dog named Roscoe, created by Boston Dynamics. This robot was involved in an operation to neutralize an armed criminal who barricaded himself in a house.
In early March, a bomb disposal team using Roscoe and two PackBot 510 robots headed to Barnstable, Cape Cod, to locate the suspect. Roscoe, controlled by remote control, was the first to explore the upper floors of the house, but ran into difficulties when he went down to the basement, where he found an armed criminal.
The criminal met the robot, knocked it down and tried to climb the stairs, not noticing that Roscoe was able to get up and follow him. Surprised by the pursuit, the criminal again attacked the robot and shot it three times, after which communication with Roscoe was lost. As it turned out later, the robot was disabled.
Interestingly, during the incident, the criminal also tried to attack one of the PackBot 510 robots, but missed. Police fired tear gas at the house, prompting the suspect to turn himself in.
Roscoe's dedication to his work impressed fellow humans, and his "sacrifice" was covered on social media. Despite the positive feedback from the Massachusetts State Police, the use of Boston Dynamics robots in police operations is controversial, especially in connection with tracking capabilities and "military militarization."
In 2021, the NYPD faced criticism for using robots, which even led to the termination of the lease agreement with Boston Dynamics. However, in 2023, New York City Mayor Eric Adams revised this decision, declaring the saving role of technology in urban environments.
After the incident, the robot dog Roscoe was taken back to the manufacturer, Boston Dynamics, in order to extract bullets from it and conduct a detailed diagnosis of the injuries received. As a sign of their support and cooperation, the Massachusetts State Police has received a replacement robot dog.
The Massachusetts State Police reported a unique case demonstrating the unconventional use of technology in emergency situations. We are talking about a robot dog named Roscoe, created by Boston Dynamics. This robot was involved in an operation to neutralize an armed criminal who barricaded himself in a house.
In early March, a bomb disposal team using Roscoe and two PackBot 510 robots headed to Barnstable, Cape Cod, to locate the suspect. Roscoe, controlled by remote control, was the first to explore the upper floors of the house, but ran into difficulties when he went down to the basement, where he found an armed criminal.
The criminal met the robot, knocked it down and tried to climb the stairs, not noticing that Roscoe was able to get up and follow him. Surprised by the pursuit, the criminal again attacked the robot and shot it three times, after which communication with Roscoe was lost. As it turned out later, the robot was disabled.
Interestingly, during the incident, the criminal also tried to attack one of the PackBot 510 robots, but missed. Police fired tear gas at the house, prompting the suspect to turn himself in.
Roscoe's dedication to his work impressed fellow humans, and his "sacrifice" was covered on social media. Despite the positive feedback from the Massachusetts State Police, the use of Boston Dynamics robots in police operations is controversial, especially in connection with tracking capabilities and "military militarization."
In 2021, the NYPD faced criticism for using robots, which even led to the termination of the lease agreement with Boston Dynamics. However, in 2023, New York City Mayor Eric Adams revised this decision, declaring the saving role of technology in urban environments.
After the incident, the robot dog Roscoe was taken back to the manufacturer, Boston Dynamics, in order to extract bullets from it and conduct a detailed diagnosis of the injuries received. As a sign of their support and cooperation, the Massachusetts State Police has received a replacement robot dog.
