U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is considering buying robot dogs to deploy in high-risk operations.
If ICE moves forward with the plan, it has budgeted between $1 million and $2 million to buy robodogs.
ICE is exploring a deal to buy Boston Dynamics’ robot dogs, known as Spot, to “support public safety and law enforcement operations by providing a remotely operated robotic capability for inspection, situational awareness, and hazard assessment in environments that may pose risks to personnel,” according to a federal procurement notice.
This 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,” the Aug. 27 notice reads.
In a separate notice on Aug. 28, the agency initiated market research to find a robot dog, also known as a “Quadruped Unmanned Ground Vehicle.”
It would be over 100 pounds, include five pairs of cameras providing 360-degree visibility, thermal image capabilities and arm grippers, according to the notice.
ICE asked for offers by Wednesday afternoon.
The U.S. Secret Service also uses Boston Dynamics remote-controlled robot dogs to help patrol and secure high-profile sites such as President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
Boston Dynamics’ sales literature describes Spot as “quick to deploy for both manual operations and autonomous missions.”
“Extensive testing in the lab and field has created a robot that you can trust to work day in and day out,” according to the company. “With over 1,500 robots in customer hands today, you can rest assured that Spot is a dependable coworker that delivers consistent results.”
Boston Dynamics has warned against weaponizing robots.
“Adding weapons to robots that are remotely or autonomously operated, widely available to the public, and capable of navigating to previously inaccessible locations where people live and work, raises new risks of harm and serious ethical issues,” the company said in an open letter to the robotics community.
It said weaponized applications would also “harm public trust in the technology.”
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