Robotic dogs are being introduced in the law enforcement and national security units to support and protect them. (Image credit: NYPD Digidog & ABC7)
This year has been marked by a lot of violence towards both civilians and law enforcement officers, and the main question that is on the mind of most people is how to hold people accountable and always have the truth. Well, the solution might be in robotics. In Florida and New York, the law enforcement units are welcoming new members: robot K9.
In Florida, Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City will receive new robotic K9 dogs by February 2021. The dogs are unmanned and have 4 legs. They will be part of the base’s security squadron and will use their 2-way communication feature and high-tech sensors to patrol the base. Although the dogs are still being tested, the squadron commander Major Jordan Criss is very optimistic about them and can already see them adopted by the entire Air Force. The plan is to have at least 4 of the robot dogs spread on the base where they can roam for up to 7 hours on a single charge. What makes the dogs special is that they can analyze the environment and support the defenders in any situation. The dogs were developed by Ghost Robotics, and according to their CEO, they were created to keep both human and military dogs safe. In the event that someone tries to hurt the robo-dog, it has a defense mechanism that will hurt the aggressor.
In New York, NYPD received a new tool: a robot dog to respond to emergencies. Named “Digidog,” the robotic animal is expected to help save lives, protect both civilians and officers. Weighing 70 pounds, Digidog is able to run three and a half miles per hour and climb stairs. Digidog is equipped with artificial intelligence, which allows it to navigate very difficult territories. With its many cameras and lights, Digidog is like the eyes of officers into places that they cannot go themselves.
The robot has been tested a couple of months back in a few situations: when a shooting suspect barricaded himself in a house, and when some hostages needed to eat during a holdup, Digidog was sent to deliver the meals, which also allowed the officers to have eyes in the room. In case officers need to communicate with someone without putting themselves at risk, they can also use the two-way communication feature of Digidog to communicate with that person.
Overall, whether it is Digidog or the Air Force robo-dogs, those robotics helpers promise to be of big help to all branches of our security officers as well the population.
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