Photo: Boston Dynamics
Boston Dynamics makes awesome, incredibly versatile, and useful robots. One of them, the famous dog robot Spot, also makes for a good, albeit too expensive, thermometer.
Civil Beat reports that the Honolulu Police Department from Hawaii now counts with its very own Spot. Considering that the four-legged robot is suitable for a variety of work, the fact that it joined the PD isn’t much of a surprise. However, its current use and the provenance of the money it was bought with are.
City spending data obtained by the media outlet reveals that the Honolulu PD spent a little over $150,000 on their new Spot, which is actually double the base price. Boston Dynamics offers a series of add-ons to the $74,500 Spot (shipping included), which drives up the final tally. No word on what these are in this particular instance.
Moreover, the money came from federal relief funds – meaning, it should have been used to assist those most affected by the ongoing health crisis.
As for how the PD is using their new robot, that’s the most unbelievable part. Spot patrols the HPD’s tent city for the homeless and takes people’s temperatures, for which reason the PD is being criticized for buying the world’s most expensive and technologically advanced thermometer in the world.
In a statement to the media, HPD Deputy Chief John McCarthy denies such claims, saying that Spot will be of further use during this difficult time – and beyond. It will be used for touchless field screening and interaction, provide telemedicine, deliver medical supplies and food, and conduct continual thermal imagining of an area.
“Currently, much of this work is done by officers, some of whom are on overtime pay. In the long run, the Spot robot will save money while keeping officers safe,” McCarthy says. “We plan to use the Spot robot in other HPD operations.”
A dancing mascot would also be an excellent fit for Spot, as the latest Boston Dynamics viral video has shown.
City spending data obtained by the media outlet reveals that the Honolulu PD spent a little over $150,000 on their new Spot, which is actually double the base price. Boston Dynamics offers a series of add-ons to the $74,500 Spot (shipping included), which drives up the final tally. No word on what these are in this particular instance.
Moreover, the money came from federal relief funds – meaning, it should have been used to assist those most affected by the ongoing health crisis.
As for how the PD is using their new robot, that’s the most unbelievable part. Spot patrols the HPD’s tent city for the homeless and takes people’s temperatures, for which reason the PD is being criticized for buying the world’s most expensive and technologically advanced thermometer in the world.
In a statement to the media, HPD Deputy Chief John McCarthy denies such claims, saying that Spot will be of further use during this difficult time – and beyond. It will be used for touchless field screening and interaction, provide telemedicine, deliver medical supplies and food, and conduct continual thermal imagining of an area.
“Currently, much of this work is done by officers, some of whom are on overtime pay. In the long run, the Spot robot will save money while keeping officers safe,” McCarthy says. “We plan to use the Spot robot in other HPD operations.”
A dancing mascot would also be an excellent fit for Spot, as the latest Boston Dynamics viral video has shown.
Google News