A Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot deployed by the Massachusetts State Police (MSP) was shot during a standoff in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
This marks the first instance of the robot being targeted while on duty, demonstrating its ability to assist law enforcement in high-risk situations.
During the incident, which took place recently, a SWAT team called in Spot, along with two PackBot 510 robots, to aid in apprehending a suspect barricaded inside a property after opening fire on officers.
The MSP reported in a Facebook post on Wednesday that deploying the robotic platforms provided critical information without endangering human lives.
Named Roscoe by the MSP, Spot was able to track down the armed suspect in the basement and pursue him as he attempted to flee up the stairs. The suspect ultimately disabled Spot by shooting at it three times.
Following the incident, the MSP highlighted the advantages of utilizing robots in tactical operations to prevent human casualties and facilitate safer interventions in volatile situations.
Roscoe was later repaired by Boston Dynamics, which retained the damaged robot for further research purposes and provided a replacement to the MSP.
On the same day as the incident, Boston Dynamics published a blog post showcasing Spot’s effectiveness in assisting first responders.
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