Massachusetts state police were grateful for a robotic dog that saved their lives and prevented a tragedy involving a person who had locked himself in a home and was firing at them.
The robotic dog, named Roscoe, was assisting the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad.
On March 6, it was called to a Barnstable home after a man opened fire on police officers. The police sent two bomb disposal robots into the house to find the suspect. The robotic dog was also sent inside with them.
The dog, which is remotely controlled by state troopers, first searched the two main floors before discovering a person in the basement.
The guy, who was carrying a gun, knocked over the robotic dog twice before shooting it three times. Following the incident, the artificial dog’s communication was disabled.
The person then fired one of the other robots, prompting the police to launch tear gas and arrest the suspect.
“The incident provided a stark example of the benefits of mobile platforms capable of opening doors and ascending stairs in tactical missions involving armed suspects,” according to a statement issued by the state police.
“In addition to providing critically important room clearance and situational awareness capabilities, the insertion of Roscoe into the suspect residence prevented the need, at that stage of response, from inserting human operators, and may have prevented a police officer from being involved in an exchange of gunfire,” according to the report.
Boston Dynamics, the company that created the robotic dog known as the SPOT robot, said in a statement that it was the first time one of them had been shot at.
“We are relieved that the only casualty that day was our robot,” said the company. “It’s a great example of how mobile robots like SPOT can be used to save lives,” it added.
The robotic dog was given to Boston Dynamics to remove the bullets.
The company will keep the robotic dog, while a new unit will be handed to the state police.