Dutch police introduce 'Robodog' for drugs lab investigations
AMSTERDAM, April 19 (Reuters) - Dutch police have welcomed a new member to their special forces team, a four-legged robot dog named “Spot”.
The robot was used for the first time in March in what police say will be its primary function for now -- entering drugs labs before humans do.
“A drug lab is always risky for us because there are always dangerous substances involved, but also possibly a criminal with a firearm,” said Marjolein Smit, head of the Division for Special Operations.
“So for us it is a great asset that we can now send a robot inside to do that initial observation for us.”
Smit said the Dutch were the first police force in Europe to use Spot, which has been an internet sensation since Boston Dynamics, the company that built it, first showcased it in 2016.
Spot uses cameras and other sensors, and is useful because of its ability to walk through doorways and clear minor obstacles. It is guided by an agent with a remote control.
