Montco Is Considering A New Bomb Squad Robot Named 'Spot'

CONSHOHOCKEN, PA — The future of law enforcement may be here, and it's name is Spot.

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office bomb squad recently requested a special demonstration on a new type of drone that can assist police in detecting and stopping bomb threats.

The presentation, put on by engineering and robotics design company Boston Dynamics, was held at the Montgomery County Fire Academy in Conshohocken last week.

"Spot literally ran rings around our conventional bomb robot —still needed for certain heavy duty tasks — but looks like the wave of the future," the sheriff's office said in describing the day.

During the demonstration, Spot, described as an "agile inspection robot," climbed stairs, opened doors, and picked up objects. The robot has four leg-like appendages and looks like a dog.

"Its 360 degree camera system allows it to clear enclosed spaces almost instantly," officials added.

It's not clear when, or if, the county will purchase Spot. It's already been leased to other law enforcement agencies around the nation, including the Massachusetts State Police.

SpotMini can also be used to help mobility-impaired people in their homes, he said. Both Spot and a robot that stands on two legs called "Atlas" have been in the works since 1992.

Boston Dynamics was created at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, purchased by Google, and then sold to its current owner, Japan's SoftBank.