Massachusetts State Police in the US have praised a robot dog for helping prevent a tragedy in which a man barricaded himself in a house and fired an automatic weapon.
Roscoe, who was part of the Massachusetts State Police bomb squad, was dispatched to a home in Barnstable on March 6 after police were shot at.
Agents sent two other robots, often used to defuse bombs, to Roscoe’s home to find the suspect.
The robot dog, controlled remotely by police, first checked the two main floors and then found someone in the basement.
A man armed with an automatic weapon knocked Roscoe down twice and then shot him three times, knocking him out of contact.
He then shot one of the other robots and the outdoor pool before police fired tear gas and had him arrested.
“This incident provides a clear example of the benefits of mobile platforms capable of opening doors and climbing stairs during tactical missions involving armed suspects,” state police said in a statement.
“Placing Roscoe at the suspect’s home avoided the need for human agents to enter at this stage of the response and may have prevented the officer from becoming involved in the shootout,” he added.
Boston Dynamics, the company that made the Spot robot, explained in a statement that this was the first time one of these devices had been shot.
“We are relieved because our robot was the only victim that day,” the company emphasized.
“This is a great example of how mobile robots like Spot can be used to save lives,” he also emphasized.
Authorities have not released the shooter’s identity or said what charges he faces.
Roscoe was sent to the factory to remove the bullets. The robot will remain with the company, and the new unit will be sent to the state police.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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