ICE seeks to purchase up to $2 million in Boston Dynamics Spot robots

[midian182]

A hot potato: Spot, the robotic quadruped from Boston Dynamics, has been used in numerous professions over the years, but its most controversial application could be on the way. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is set to spend $2 million on the robot dogs, which could support officers by remotely assessing environments before they enter.

A new Department of Homeland Security procurement notice describes the possible purchase of Boston Dynamics SPOT robots and accessories valued at between $1 million and $2 million.

The document lists the robots' potential uses as inspection, situational awareness, and hazard assessment in environments that may pose risks to personnel.

It adds that these capabilities helps improve officer safety, supports informed operational decision-making, and enhances DHS's ability to respond to incidents involving dangerous, confined, unstable, or difficult-to-access areas.

Also read: Hyundai wants to sell humanoid and robot dogs through its car dealerships

There's no mention of the robots being used to apprehend people or make arrests, which was later confirmed by a senior DHS official speaking to NBC News, though that's unlikely to make their use by ICE any less controversial.

This won't be the first time Spot has been used by a government agency. In 2019, the Massachusetts State Police bomb squad leased one of the robots for use as a "mobile remote observation device." It was sent to inspect suspicious objects and dangerous locations, taking part in at least two incidents.

The NYPD later deployed a heavily modified Spot known as Digidog. The robot was used for reconnaissance during a 2020 incident in which a gunman barricaded himself inside a basement, and again the following year to investigate a house during a reported home invasion before officers entered.

Digidog reportedly completed around six missions without harming civilians, but footage of the robot in action prompted a backlash over surveillance and the increasingly Black Mirror-like appearance of modern policing. The NYPD terminated its $94,000 lease in 2021, only to bring Digidog back two years later. The department acquired two of the robots for $750,000, saying they would only be deployed in life-threatening situations such as bomb threats.

Spot also has a history with the US military. An early version was tested by the Marines as a potential load-carrying and ground-reconnaissance platform. While it was much quieter than Boston Dynamics' gas-powered AlphaDog, Spot had to be monitored continuously and could carry only around 40 pounds of equipment. Those limitations meant the military ultimately shelved the project.

Boston Dynamics prohibits customers from using Spot to harm or intimidate people, warning that it will take "appropriate measures to mitigate that misuse." Even if it believes this doesn't apply to ICE, the company will have to decide whether up to $2 million in sales will be worth the bad publicity.

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ICE seeks to purchase up to $2 million in Boston Dynamics Spot robots

 

[Plutoisaplanet]

Reportedly, Boston Dynamics said Spot could be used by ICE agents only if they addressed it "NICE doggie".

 

[wiyosaya]

No doubt this will be well-received by the general public. /s

 

[pnntmp]

What exactly is "controversial" in using a robot where a human has a serious chance of getting hurt or worse?
ICE is dealing with thousands of hardened criminals, many of them murderers, drug dealers, human traffickers, burglars ... nothing that makes their job easier and safer is "controversial".

 

[NumberNine]

If officer safety is the highest priority the robot dogs aren't enough. Every individual operating in a law enforcement capacity, from mall security to federal agents, needs permission to fire at will with no fear of legal consequence or retaliation. Antiquated concepts like "rights" and "due process" are going to cost America all of the freedom points and China will come take all of our internets and computers away because we lost the race to maximum money. I don't think you understand how high the stakes are.

Thank goodness for the brave robot dogs and other vendor contracted surveillance equipment with more legal protections than a citizen.

 

[psycros]

What the US really needs are combat llamas.

 

[wiyosaya]

What exactly is "controversial" in using a robot where a human has a serious chance of getting hurt or worse?
ICE is dealing with thousands of hardened criminals, many of them murderers, drug dealers, human traffickers, burglars ... nothing that makes their job easier and safer is "controversial".

If officer safety is the highest priority the robot dogs aren't enough. Every individual operating in a law enforcement capacity, from mall security to federal agents, needs permission to fire at will with no fear of legal consequence or retaliation. Antiquated concepts like "rights" and "due process" are going to cost America all of the freedom points and China will come take all of our internets and computers away because we lost the race to maximum money. I don't think you understand how high the stakes are.

Thank goodness for the brave robot dogs and other vendor contracted surveillance equipment with more legal protections than a citizen.

The Trump Kool-aid is thick with these.

What the US really needs are combat llamas.

The Animal kind or the Martial Arts master kind?

 

[Alex G]

sThe Trump Kool-aid is thick with these.

#9's comment was sarcasm, I'd like to think. pnntmp's one OTOH... yeah, "hardened".

 

[SpitzBub]

What exactly is "controversial" in using a robot where a human has a serious chance of getting hurt or worse?
ICE is dealing with thousands of hardened criminals, many of them murderers, drug dealers, human traffickers, burglars ... nothing that makes their job easier and safer is "controversial".

"ICE agents act like or are hardened criminals, many of them murderers, drug dealers, human traffickers, burglars ... to them nothing that makes their job even more brutal is deemed controversial!!"

There, I fixed it for you. You're welcome!! By the way, ICE has killed and arrested MANY US citizens. Your description of those victims is shameful.

PS: That main picture shows the previous NY mayor. How old is this article??

 

[wiyosaya]

"ICE agents act like or are hardened criminals, many of them murderers, drug dealers, human traffickers, burglars ... to them nothing that makes their job even more brutal is deemed controversial!!"

There, I fixed it for you. You're welcome!! By the way, ICE has killed and arrested MANY US citizens. Your description of those victims is shameful.

PS: That main picture shows the previous NY mayor. How old is this article??

I think the point being that NYCPD empolyed robot dogs as mentioned in the article.

You can bet, IMO, that the restrictions on the NYCPD Dogs were much more stringent than the restrictions that will be on the ICE Dogs if there are any restrictions at all on the ICE Dogs.

 

[AnilD]

Spot could be useful for entering unstable buildings and checking dangerous environments without risking a human life. Unfortunately, robot dogs deployed by law enforcement also look like they were designed specifically to make every legitimate use case feel dystopian.

 

[Hexic]

What exactly is "controversial" in using a robot where a human has a serious chance of getting hurt or worse?
ICE is dealing with thousands of hardened criminals, many of them murderers, drug dealers, human traffickers, burglars ... nothing that makes their job easier and safer is "controversial".

Because TDS is very, very real. Had the Obama or Biden admin been in power at the posting of this article, it would have barely made news.

But hey, officer involved safety in this administration definitely takes a backseat to politics to the general, ignorant public.

 

[toooooot]

I hope they dress them in cute ICE uniforms with face masks.

 

[pnntmp]

Because TDS is very, very real. Had the Obama or Biden admin been in power at the posting of this article, it would have barely made news.

But hey, officer involved safety in this administration definitely takes a backseat to politics to the general, ignorant public.

You're absolutely right.
Obama deported way more illegals than Trump without a word in the media, without demonstrations, protests or criticism. It was simply what the President was obliged to do to protect the country, period.
Then Biden deliberately destroyed the border and flooded the country with millions of illegals in an attempt to permanently rig all future elections.
Now Trump has to fix Biden's mess doing exactly the same what Obama did.

 

[Honest Abe]

How many of those robots does $2 million buy them? Like 2 or 3?

 

[m4a4]

There, I fixed it for you. You're welcome!! By the way, ICE has killed and arrested MANY US citizens. Your description of those victims is shameful.

How many citizens killed per capita? (or compared to successful deportations)

And how many citizens have been deported?


Why don't you back up those ridiculous and hyperbolic claims with a few facts first, instead of spewing such disingenuous BS.

 

[Underdog]

How much of the 2 million bucks goes to Trump's buddies?

 

[GrayDragon]

What exactly is "controversial" in using a robot where a human has a serious chance of getting hurt or worse?
ICE is dealing with thousands of hardened criminals, many of them murderers, drug dealers, human traffickers, burglars ... nothing that makes their job easier and safer is "controversial".

Stop believing your own propaganda. More than half the people in abusive lockup by ICE never did anything to deserve it.

 

[GrayDragon]

You're absolutely right.
Obama deported way more illegals than Trump without a word in the media, without demonstrations, protests or criticism. It was simply what the President was obliged to do to protect the country, period.
Then Biden deliberately destroyed the border and flooded the country with millions of illegals in an attempt to permanently rig all future elections.
Now Trump has to fix Biden's mess doing exactly the same what Obama did.

No, they don't vote, they just come in and work really hard, probably a lot harder than most of the people reading this. I'm very disgusted by lazy workers criticizing workers who aren't lazy.

 

[GrayDragon]

How many citizens killed per capita? (or compared to successful deportations)

And how many citizens have been deported?


Why don't you back up those ridiculous and hyperbolic claims with a few facts first, instead of spewing such disingenuous BS.

They have to arrest them if they get upset that ICE is picking up mom and pop types along with their children. As for killing, I have only read about maybe 2 or 3 citizens being killed, the rest were immigrants which, for some of you, don't even count as people. Of course I'm not happy with any of this, I'd rather see our country continue to be welcoming to people who want to come here to work, raise their kids, and be safe from insanity of the world. Instead, the insanity has apparently come to the U.S. and we have to put up with it until the Orange guy dies, or leaves office, or whatever.

 

[m4a4]

They have to arrest them if they get upset that ICE is picking up mom and pop types along with their children. As for killing, I have only read about maybe 2 or 3 citizens being killed, the rest were immigrants which, for some of you, don't even count as people. Of course I'm not happy with any of this, I'd rather see our country continue to be welcoming to people who want to come here to work, raise their kids, and be safe from insanity of the world. Instead, the insanity has apparently come to the U.S. and we have to put up with it until the Orange guy dies, or leaves office, or whatever.

It is welcoming, provided you knock on the front door and are welcomed in. Sneaking in the back uninvited while the kids are upstairs sleeping should rightfully get you kicked out, even if you resist.

Enforcing borders has only become a first world problem in very recent memory, lets not pretend that sneaking into a country makes you entitled to stay.

 

[GrayDragon]

It is welcoming, provided you knock on the front door and are welcomed in. Sneaking in the back uninvited while the kids are upstairs sleeping should rightfully get you kicked out, even if you resist.

Enforcing borders has only become a first world problem in very recent memory, lets not pretend that sneaking into a country makes you entitled to stay.

No, you're speaking from old information. You didn't have to sneak in to be arrested. Nowadays people being picked up have legal right to be here, they just didn't happen to get citizenship, and even some naturalized citizens are being picked up despite living here legally for a long time with no problems.

 

[m4a4]

No, you're speaking from old information. You didn't have to sneak in to be arrested. Nowadays people being picked up have legal right to be here, they just didn't happen to get citizenship, and even some naturalized citizens are being picked up despite living here legally for a long time with no problems.

No one who illegally enters, or illegally overstays their visa is entitled to stay.

And stop pretending that the administration is going around deporting legal residents by the plane-full.

 

[GrayDragon]

No one who illegally enters, or illegally overstays their visa is entitled to stay.

And stop pretending that the administration is going around deporting legal residents by the plane-full.

Uninformed boy: You don't get to tell me what to think or say. And ICE _is_ deporting children who are citizens if they want to stay with their parents.

 

[m4a4]

Uninformed boy: You don't get to tell me what to think or say. And ICE _is_ deporting children who are citizens if they want to stay with their parents.

Right to the ad-hominen attacks when you're losing the argument. Facts don't care about your feelings.

You people always do that. But this is a tech website, so I've entertained your emotional whining enough. I hope these Spot robots help a lot. Good day.

Ps, That's not deporting, that's bringing your child with you (like a parent should). If the parents were responsible and entered legally, or applied for the right status, it wouldn't be happening. What a slimy manipulation of events, you'd make a good politician. "Think about the children!" take your emotional manipulation somewhere else.