Spot The 'Robot Dog' To Join Montco Law Enforcement

CONSHOHOCKEN, PA — The future is here for Montgomery County law enforcement.

The sheriff's department announced the purchase of Spot, a specially modified and refitted version of the agile inspection "robot dog." Spot can climb stairs, open doors, and "manipulate" various objects, officials said. It has a 360 degree camera system and can swiftly clear a room of potential danger.

“We are thrilled to welcome Spot to our team,” Sheriff Sean Kilkenny said. “Its advanced capabilities will greatly enhance our ability to respond to and mitigate potential threats, ultimately ensuring the safety of our community.”

Spot is already used by a handful of law enforcement agencies around the country. In addition to checking out dangerous areas for bombs or other threats, Spot can also be used for various search and rescue and hazmat situations.

He is strictly designed for searching and identifying, however. Officials said that Spot has no "fixed lethal weapon system" nor does it have any facial recognition software, in accordance with Montgomery County sheriff's office policy and the charter of its creators, Boston Dynamics.

A special demonstration to county deputies a year ago, back in April 2023, left them impressed.

"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 at the time.

The robot has four leg-like appendages and indeed looks like a robotic canine.

The sheriff's office was supported by all three Montgomery County Commissioners in purchasing Spot.

Spot has already been leased to other law enforcement agencies around the nation, including the Massachusetts State Police and Los Angeles Police Department. In addition to Spot, Boston Dynamics also created a robot called Stretch, used primarily to unload trailers and shipping containers.

Spot's creators, Boston Dynamics, was formed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, purchased by Google, and then sold to its current owners, Hyundai and Japan's Soft Bank.

Spot bears resemblance in appearance to science fiction creations in both "Black Mirror" and "Code 8: Part II," though police say and its creators reiterate that its abilities are not nefarious.