Departments are deploying robotic K-9s instead of human and K-9 officers into dangerous situations.IMAGE: Boston Dynamics
These robotic dogs can be sent into areas deemed unsafe for law enforcement officers and police dogs. This advanced technology delivers a safer way for departments to handle dangerous situations, traverse difficult terrain and interact with potentially hostile or barricaded individuals.
The Pullman Police Department is among the law enforcement agencies giving this technology a try.
This Washington department recently introduced MIKE, a robot dog from Unitree, to its team.
Short for Mission-Integrated Kinetic Entity, the robot is equipped with advanced technology, including one-way communication for crisis negotiations, the ability to carry up to 25 pounds of supplies, and real-time video and mapping capabilities to assess and plan for potential threats.
The department aims to employ MIKE in building searches and threat de-escalation operations to safeguard the safety of human and K-9 officers, according to Commander Aaron Breshears.
Successful Agency Applications
The Pullman PD is not the first to implement this technology, nor will it be the last.
The Massachusetts State Police has been at the forefront of integrating innovative K-9s into its operations. This state agency has had outstanding success with deploying Boston Dynamics’ robotic K-9 Spot instead of human and K-9 officers in dangerous situations, reports Kerri Neelon, senior manager of communications at Boston Dynamics.
She shares that notable incidents in Stoneham and Hyannis, Massachusetts highlight the pivotal role robotic K-9s, like Spot, can play in modern law enforcement.
Neelon shares the Massachusetts State Policer investigated a suspicious item at a Stoneham Mobil gas station and deployed Spot to investigate the object, which turned out to be a battery pack assembly.
The incident led to significant road closures, disrupting traffic in the immediate area. The robot’s quick response minimized the disruption and showed how valuable this tool is for first responders in dangerous situations, she says.
In Hyannis, police deployed Spot during a seven-hour standoff with an armed suspect barricaded inside a home. The situation began when police responded to reports of an adult man holding his mother at knifepoint.
During the standoff, the suspect exchanged gunfire with law enforcement, making the scene extremely dangerous. The agency used Spot to aid them, despite the suspect occasionally firing at the robot. According to Neelon, this was the first time a Spot robot had been fired upon while on duty.
While some question a robotic K-9s use, experts believe these tools can safely assess situations to better protect officers and bystanders. Their agility and advanced sensors make them an asset in dangerous situations, like standoffs or bomb threats.
“The Massachusetts State Police remains committed to using new technology to advance our public safety mission. In potentially dangerous environments, the impact of robot technology cannot be overstated because they deliver critical information and situational awareness,” says Tim McGuirk, interim director of Media Relations for the Massachusetts State Police.
He explains, “When faced with an armed suspect or hazard, like in Hyannis earlier this year, Spot mitigates the risk to public safety and helps first responders achieve a peaceful outcome without injury. We are deeply grateful for the chance to use this technology from a Massachusetts-based partner."
Breshears emphasizes that robotic K-9s help protect the public and law enforcement officers at potentially violent calls.
“These are expensive tools, and we always want to make sure we’re using them responsibly,” he says. “But if we have to sacrifice a ‘ground drone’ to a hostile or threatening person, it’s much better than endangering an officer or a police K-9.”
Robot Capabilities
The Pullman PD integrated MIKE into its drone program, where officers certified in overhead drone operation also operate the ground drone.
MIKE’s capabilities include one-way communication, which Breshears says allows crisis negotiators to speak with barricaded suspects without direct risk to personnel. The robot can also carry up to 25 pounds, which enables it to deliver crucial supplies or equipment to dangerous locations.
These capabilities help Pullman officers communicate with barricade suspects, Breshears says.
“To de-escalate these situations, we need to communicate with the suspect,” he explains. “Often, we cannot establish communications. The traditional alternative in those situations is to have a SWAT team move in and put themselves in danger to deliver a ‘throw phone’ or cell phone. This mission might not even be approved because it’s too dangerous. So, you lose out on the opportunity to de-escalate the situation through communication. The ability to move to the subject’s location without endangering officers is a big plus. And because MIKE can carry up to 25 pounds, we can move him in and deliver a cell phone directly to the subject.”
MIKE also can communicate directly with a subject, which Breshears says greatly aids communication.
Equipped with advanced 4K video and mapping technology, MIKE also provides real-time data that helps officers assess environmental threats, plan safer tactics, and keep their teams out of harm’s way.
“Our goal is to always de-escalate situations, when possible, but gathering intelligence about a scene is critical for mission planning,” he says. “LIDAR mapping provides us with more information than regular video. We can really see into the scene and understand what barriers, obstacles or challenges might be present when deploying a team.”
Breshears mentions the tool would have been extremely useful in a past situation where the SWAT team had to enter blind. Officers had heard shots fired and didn’t know what they were walking into.
“It turns out the suspect had killed himself and was deceased,” he says. “But if we had MIKE, we could have sent him in to assess the situation first.”
Like MIKE, Boston Dynamics’ Spot can climb stairs and traverse rough terrain with ease yet is small enough to use indoors. The robot, built on a robust and customizable platform, offers a safe view of hazardous scenarios for police.
Spot has a long arm, known as the Spot ARM, which lets it open doors, reach into areas and grab objects. The robot uses internal cameras to avoid obstacles and people as it moves throughout a scene.
In addition, its Spot CAM captures can capture the entire scene and zoom in to conduct detailed inspections. The general-purpose robot is open architecture, which means it integrates with other software through an application programming interface (API). Users use a controller to remotely control the robot and surveil and record a scene.
“These tools offer so many options and the technology is advancing so rapidly,” Breshears adds. “Any department looking to add these tools should look at all the options and test drive them.”
How to Address Citizen Concerns
In a Black Mirror episode, robotic dogs with lethal weapons turned against humans, hunting them down. This show did little to help the public’s perception of robotic K-9s.
News headlines show widespread public concern. When Los Angeles tried to approve a robot dog, community members urged the city council members to reject the purchase. A cloud of controversy surrounding the NYPD’s robotic dog led to its early removal in New York.
Across the nation, robotic dogs have elicited ethical concerns about potential misuse or disproportionate impact on marginalized communities. The public has asked for regulation and oversight and demands answers about data practices, weaponization and bias risks.
Breshears stresses these types of concerns make transparency vital. He shares that Pullman PD has had positive and negative reactions to their new addition.
Initially, he says some community members were apprehensive, believing the robot dog would militarize the police. They also questioned whether this might make a situation with someone in a mental health crisis even worse. All feedback Pullman PD received was considered and addressed, he says.
“We have put out social media posts and other information to introduce MIKE to the public so they know why he is there and when he might be part of a call,” he says. “We try to be very transparent. I think it’s important for the community to know what we are doing with their money and the tools and innovations we are adding to help keep them safe.”
Future public demonstrations are likely, as the agency has received multiple requests for them. “We haven’t had MIKE that long, so we are evaluating how best to do these things,” he says. “He will be put out into the public more and more and used for community outreach.”
Initially, officers were also skeptical of MIKE, Breshears admits. “Once they saw that he moves around very well, can be knocked over and gets right back up, they realized this is a great tool that keeps us out of harm’s way,” he says.
Boston Dynamics and other manufacturers try to help defuse public concerns by listing prohibited uses. These include intentional use of the product to harm or intimidate any person or animal, using it as a weapon or to enable a weapon, or to use it for illegal purposes of any kind.
In an open letter to the public, five robot manufacturers stated, “We pledge that we will not weaponize our advanced-mobility general-purpose robots or the software we develop that enables advanced robotics and we will not support others to do so. When possible, we will carefully review our customers’ intended applications to avoid potential weaponization. We also pledge to explore the development of technological features that could mitigate or reduce these risks. To be clear, we are not taking issue with existing technologies that nations and their government agencies use to defend themselves and uphold their laws.”
The open letter also called on police agencies to do their part by making similar pledges not to build, authorize, support or enable the attachment of weaponry to the robots.
A Push for Legislation in Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, State Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa and State Sen. Michael Moore have introduced "An Act to Ensure the Responsible Use of Advanced Robotic Technologies," which aims to regulate robots and drones equipped with weapons.
The bill, the first in the nation, proposes prohibiting the sale, use, and manufacture of weaponized devices, as well as the use of robots for harassment or physical restraint. Violators could face fines between $5,000 and $25,000.
Backed by industry and civil rights groups, the bill safeguards public safety and encourages innovation. It also mandates a warrant for law enforcement use of robots on private property and ensures transparency through public records. Exemptions are made for the military, law enforcement handling explosives, and certain private companies with case-by-case waivers from the Attorney General.
Advocates, including the ACLU and Boston Dynamics, have praised the bill for addressing the risks of weaponized robots and ensuring responsible technology use, Neelon says.
