US Police Already Using 'Spot' Robot From Boston Dynamics In the Real World (gizmodo.com) 36
Massachusetts State Police (MSP) has been quietly testing ways to use the four-legged Boston Dynamics robot known as Spot, according to new documents obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts. And while Spot isn't equipped with a weapon just yet, the documents provide a terrifying peek at our RoboCop future. Gizmodo reports: The Spot robot, which was officially made available for lease to businesses last month, has been in use by MSP since at least April 2019 and has engaged in at least two police "incidents," though it's not clear what those incidents may have been. It's also not clear whether the robots were being operated by a human controller or how much autonomous action the robots are allowed. MSP did not respond to Gizmodo's emails on Monday morning.
The newly obtained documents, first reported by Ally Jarmanning at WBUR in Boston, include emails and contracts that shed some light on how police departments of the future may use robots to engage suspects without putting human police in harm's way. In one document written by Lt. Robert G. Schumaker robots are described as an "invaluable component of tactical operations" that are vital to support the state's "Homeland Security Strategy." [...] The question that remains is whether the American public will simply accept robocops as our reality now. Unfortunately, it seems like we may not have any choice in the matter -- especially when the only way that we can learn about this new robot-police partnership is through records requests by the ACLU. And even then, we're still largely in the dark about how these things will be used.
The newly obtained documents, first reported by Ally Jarmanning at WBUR in Boston, include emails and contracts that shed some light on how police departments of the future may use robots to engage suspects without putting human police in harm's way. In one document written by Lt. Robert G. Schumaker robots are described as an "invaluable component of tactical operations" that are vital to support the state's "Homeland Security Strategy." [...] The question that remains is whether the American public will simply accept robocops as our reality now. Unfortunately, it seems like we may not have any choice in the matter -- especially when the only way that we can learn about this new robot-police partnership is through records requests by the ACLU. And even then, we're still largely in the dark about how these things will be used.
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"Questionable Ethics."
They need them to hunt those pesky Canadians who smuggle cheap medicine into the country.
The bastards.
Maybe they could.... (Score:3)
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It all started with Heartbeeps and the CrimeBuster.
"it can't be outsmarted, it can't be outrun"
https://youtu.be/CeyhQpjfgVs [youtu.be]
Not only accept, it's the only way forward (Score:2, Offtopic)
Lots of people these days are not accepting of human cops, at all... but we cannot have no police, without rule of law there is chaos.
Therefore robocops will not just be accepted, but embraced because they are a neutral being that can serve without emotion, and we don't care if they get shot unlike real police.
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Tell the person in a loud and direct way to follow a lawful order?
Its a bit better than going full K9 dog in that way.
The other neat legal aspect would be that the "four-legged robot" is legally real police.
Any use of paint, attempts to tip over... jamming of command and control, changing to a new command and control system
may result in police related extra crimes.
The population has to accept any lawful command given by the four-legged "police" robot.
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What is the four-legged robot going to do?
Just as much as modern police at modern violent rallies - i.e. nothing at all. Just tell people off basically.
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Depends on the programming.
There have been a LOT of cases where they proved the 'algorithm' was prejudiced because it was fed prejudiced data.
In particular, they have used sentencing software that was based on racist data. When examined by neutral 3rd parties, it was found that black defendants were given harsher treatments than similar white defendants.
I am 99% sure that the first sets of police robots will have similar problems.
I can see it now, videos of the robots politely asking white drivers for the
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This is bollocks. People draw a distinction between cops and military. They should use different rules of engagement and different weapons.
The US police is being turned into an occupying army, with the matching weapons, armor and rules of engagement.
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Robot cops will be like the paper towel dispensers that give you 3 inches of paper. Go watch Elysium. Do you feel your rights have not been respected? If you would like to speak to a *HUMAN* parole officer.....
Not surprising (Score:1)
Honestly they make a ton of sense when there is a lot of risk involved and they don't want to risk officers life. They will still be accountable for what the robots do. They will not go crazy with the robots because those cost a lot of money, but there are plenty of situation where you'd want to send a robot instead of a human.
What's with all that craziness ?
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risk officers life
I'd be a lot more interested in improving the chances of people who do **actual** dangerous jobs, such as fishermen, carpenters, or cab drivers. Being a cop doesn't even make the top 20 most dangerous jobs.
Tactical operations (Score:2, Interesting)
The four-legged robot enters and prompts the people to comply.
Now the police have a few options.
Accept the peaceful surrender as people have seen the small tank and four-legged robot.
The people dont respond?
Go full tactical operations.. with every cam on.
Do a records requests on the files and see what a tactical operation results in.
Should have listened to the commands given before the tactical operation.
The
Nothing lasts forever (Score:1)
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Yeah, I frequently tell myself "I'm glad I'll be dead soon.". I'm serious, but not suicidal. I really don't like the way the planet is headed with all the extremism, prejudice, violence and wars. It looks like things are going to get much worse before they get better, and I don't see that happening before the natural end of my life. So, I have all downhill (in a bad way) to look forward to. I'm old and not in the best health, so I'm looking at another 10-20 years probably, tops.
Damn you Rodderberry! Y
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Because of a robot dog? Geez.
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Because the first real life (semi-)autonomous robots did in fact turn out to be deathbots (military) and oppression bots (police).
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What else could they be used for? Hauling food to poor people? They are robot dogs that last maybe 90 minutes on a battery. I doubt they are useful to the police, but they are a toy that they sold to the local Massachusetts police force.
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The mere fact that someone modded this "Troll" is a fucking PERFECT example of what I am talking about. The sooner I've left this shithole planet, the better.
Fuck 'yall. Thanks for all the fish.
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Actually, in spite of what they show on the 24x7 "news" cycle things are getting much better. We are living in the time of the least poverty, the least crime, the least war, the least oppression, and the least racism in the history of the world. I highly recommend Hans and Ola Rosling's videos on YouTube, "The best statistics you've ever seen".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
Quite eye-opening, and I wish it were more widely distributed.
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We are too, Andy.
Spot is the New School Police Officer (Score:2)
See Spot. / See Spot apprehend Dick and Jane. / Apprehend Spot, apprehend!
How long before these are armed? (Score:3)
I recall a fairly public incident of a robot being armed in the field to kill a man that was threatening the lives of the police. I recall it was a claymore mine, or something similar, duct taped to the front of a surveillance robot. They rolled the robot up to the guy and once they had an ID on him they then triggered the mine. This raised controversy as there was no immediate danger to anyone when the suspect was killed. He was certainly still a threat, that was not in question, but not an "immediate" threat.
Now they have a robot capable of opening doors. What would it take to improvise a handgun in this "hand"? Perhaps make this a bit easier to improvise, close the grasping mechanism around a hand grenade, pull pin, then command the robot to find the target. ID the perp with the camera, release grenade. One less robot, but also one less perp.
This is not new, it's been done. What I expect is more debate on when and where this tactic is acceptable for the police.
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Just have the robot open the door, toss the grenade in, and close the door. Problem solved. If it can whistle the Star Spangled Banner while doing it would be a bonus.
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It will start an arms race. The police will be attacked with drones, lasers and weapons that target the robots but also pose a danger to the humans. Criminals might think twice about shooting a cop, not so much a robot.
Given your signature I imagine you must be planning to arm yourself with robot suicide bombers, to maintain your freedom. Were you thinking flying or wheeled?
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Why are we afraid of this? (Score:2)
Itâ(TM)s ridiculous to be afraid of robots when humans can be worse. Look at all the evil in the world. How the hell can robots make things worse if anything they will be better. Let the robots do most of our work. Humans donâ(TM)t want to work anyway.. humans just want to have fun so let us. Let robots farm, build humans mansions and roads, manufacture stuff. Let them do it. Humans are uppity. Humans donâ(TM)t want to clean toilets and flip burgers. Humans donâ(TM)t want to pretend to b
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Now the twitchy cops will just be ready with their already drawn, while the robot pulls open the door... what could go wrong...
Don't they watch (Score:2)
It can't (Score:2)
It can't smell weed or even pretend like it does. How is this robot going to let police illegally search cars and homes?