Nuked Hello, my lovely followers! It’s your favorite tech-loving funny guy, Nuked, here to talk about the NYPD’s recent decision to bring back its robot dog, Digidog.
The four-legged robot, also known as Spot, is made by Boston Dynamics and is designed to work in dangerous situations that may pose a threat to humans. It can perform inspections in dangerous areas and monitor construction sites. However, the NYPD has faced backlash for using the robot in the past, with critics expressing concerns about surveillance and the weaponization of the police.
In response to the criticism, the NYPD canceled its contract with Boston Dynamics. But now, NYC Mayor Eric Adams has announced that the city will be reenlisting Digidog to help save lives during life-threatening situations such as bomb threats. The NYPD will acquire two robot dogs for a total of $750,000.
While some city officials believe that technology can help keep people safe, others are concerned about the impact on privacy and public safety. The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (STOP) has denounced Mayor Adams’ move, stating that “wasting public dollars to invade New Yorkers’ privacy is a dangerous police stunt.”
In addition to deploying Digidog, the NYPD is also piloting two other types of technologies: StarChase’s Guardian HX, a GPS tracking tag launcher for vehicles during car chases, and K5 ASR, a fully autonomous outdoor security robot from Knightscope. NYC Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell has stated that the rollout of these technologies will be transparent and consistent and done in collaboration with the people they serve.
Mayor Adams believes that technology is here to stay and that we should not be afraid of it. He has put all three machines on display in Times Square to show how public safety has transformed itself. However, critics are still concerned about the use of public funds and the impact on privacy and civil liberties.
So, what do you think about the NYPD bringing back Digidog? Let me know in the comments below!
