The Fire Department of New York City debuted its new robot dog Spot on Thursday during an appearance at City Hall.
Spot will be used for search-and-rescue missions and costs about $75,000, according to a report.
The mechanical hound has the ability to recognize dangerous gases and collect data on a structure’s integrity, the report noted.
ROBOT DOGS, WATERPROOF PAPER, AND STUN GUN ARMBANDS TEMPT BORDER OFFICIALS
Spot was designed to descend into collapsed buildings and report on the integrity of smoldering structures, according to the department.
The future of fire safety and rescue courtesy of the @FDNY. pic.twitter.com/VSJEbPn0hs
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) March 31, 2022
Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, was introduced to the bright yellow Spot and controlled the robot hound as it walked up the City Hall steps.
“The future of fire safety and rescue courtesy of the @FDNY,” Adams tweeted with video of himself and Spot.
Officers have begun training on how to work with the equipment, the report noted. Spot is one of two robot dogs manufactured by Boston Dynamics.
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The New York City Police Department leased at least one mechanical pooch in the past, but critics complained it could lead to dystopian “surveillance,” leading to the cancellation of the NYPD’s contract with Boston Dynamics last year.
