New York police sends robot dog Spot back early after criticism

The NYPD has prematurely terminated its contract with Boston Dynamics for robot dog Spot and is going to return the robot. The police had the robot dog since August last year and would test it until August. Critics say the robot dog was reminiscent of a “dystopian surveillance drone.”

Police confirm to the New York Times that they terminated the lease contract for Digidog, as the NYPD called the robot dog, early on April 22. Deputy Commissioner John Miller says Digidog had become a target of people who had used the robot ‘incorrectly’. These people would have incorrectly used Digidog to fuel discussions about racism and surveillance, Miller says. According to Miller, the return is therefore a ‘political choice’ and not a technical one.

According to the newspaper, there were concerns about the money invested in Spot. In addition, human rights organization ACLU, among others, expressed the fear that the robot dog could eventually be equipped with artificial intelligence and weapons.

The NYPD had been using Digidog since August, and the robot dog has been used about six times since then. Digidog was used, among other things, for barricade and hostage situations and had lamps, a camera, a microphone and a speaker. Miller doesn’t rule out Digidog’s return at a later date.

Miller says the NYPD has been using robots for nearly 50 years, with Spot being more agile than the other NYPD robots thanks to its four legs. For example, Spot can climb stairs relatively easily. In addition, Spot is cheaper than other robots and has better camera tools.

Boston Dynamics says Spot has been delivered 500 times to businesses and organizations and is primarily used by utilities, construction sites or other dangerous commercial applications. The robot dog is not intended to be used as a weapon, or to intimidate people or animals, the company says. Of the delivered robot dogs, four are used for police purposes.