A robot dog is being thanked by Massachusetts state police for helping to avert a tragedy involving a man barricaded in a home.
The dog, named Roscoe, is part of the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad and was deployed on March 6 at a Barnstable home after being shot at by police. The police sent two other robots that are often used to throw bombs into the house to search for the suspect along with Roscoe.
The robot dog, controlled remotely by state troopers, first searched the two main floors before finding a person in the basement. The man, armed with a rifle, knocked Roscoe down twice before shooting him three times, causing him to lose communication.
The man then shot at one of the other robots and an outdoor swimming pool before police deployed tear gas and arrested them.
“The incident provides a strong example of the benefits of mobile platforms capable of opening doors and climbing stairs in tactical missions involving armed suspects,” said the police in state of a statement. “In addition to providing the all-important room clearance and situational awareness capabilities, Roscoe's entry into the suspect's residence eliminates the need, at that response stage, from the entry of human operators, and may have prevented a police officer from engaging in an exchange of gunfire.”
Boston Dynamics, the company that makes the SPOT robot, said in a statement that it was the first time one of them had been shot.
“We are relieved that the only casualty that day was our robot,” the company said. “This is a great example of how mobile robots like Spot can be used to save lives.”
Authorities have not yet identified the shooter or said what charges they are facing.
Roscoe is sent to Boston Dynamics to retrieve the ammunition. It will remain with the company and a new unit will be sent to the state police.