This document provides an overview of quadruped robot technology; presents a discussion of community concerns; examines some cases of use by law enforcement and adjacent industries; and identifies technical, operational, and societal considerations for quadruped robot adoption and implementation.
This technology brief discusses the adoption and use of quadruped robots, also known as robodogs, by law enforcement agencies. Its goal is to inform and educate law enforcement practitioners and other stakeholders about robodogs, and to show how these robots have been employed by law enforcement, including the robots’ usefulness in supporting search and rescue operations and helping with high-risk situations. The brief highlights robodogs’ versatility while noting that the robots are often deployed in tandem with officer activities, such as Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams, but widespread adoption is often limited by budget restraints. The brief lays out some typical features of robodogs, and notes add-on features such as sensors, communication technologies, and manipulator arms; it also provides a comparison of a variety of robots used by law enforcement agencies, including wheeled or tracked robots, and drones. It provides a detailed breakdown of some of the main benefits and drawbacks of robodogs, as well as community concerns, including their potential weaponization, violations of privacy rights, and over-policing of historically marginalized neighborhoods. The brief also describes the underlying technology of robodogs, noting hardware and software attributes, base features and capabilities, add-on capabilities, operation and autonomy capabilities, and vendors. The document also highlights some use of robodogs in a law enforcement context, noting their use in high-risk operations, hostage situations, barricaded suspects, tactical support capabilities, delivering payloads, search and rescue operations, event surveillance, and more. Case studies from St. Petersburg, Florida; Los Angeles, California; and the Western Australia police force. The brief also provides some considerations for law enforcement agencies as they plan the implementation of robodogs, and lists key questions for agencies before robodog implementation.