By deploying a robotic dog to defend Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home, the US Secret Service appears to be going beyond the definition of a “guard dog.”
Security at the Florida club was increased a week after Trump’s victory in the US presidential election.
A robot dog is assisting Secret Service agents in protecting Donald Trump.
How will Trump be protected by robot dogs?
The US tech company Boston Dynamics is the manufacturer of the robot dogs, and the technology they use is called Spot.
Boston Dynamics claims that Spot can offer a variety of security features.
A representative for the IT company told the New York Post, “The robotic dogs are outfitted with surveillance technology and an array of advanced sensors that support our protective operations, but we cannot get into the specific capabilities.”
“The president-elect’s safety is of utmost importance.”
The Palm Beach estate has being patrolled by the robot dog.
These patrols involve strolling about the property’s grounds and among the palm palms, frequently accompanied by a human handler.
Could you give the dog a pat?
No.
In spite of being a good dog, no.
The words “do not pet” are written in capital letters on a warning label that is attached to the dog.
In addition, if Spot is surrounded by armed Secret Service personnel, you might never be able to get close enough to it. A bad concept.
What is it capable of?
The robot can open doors, climb stairs, and manoeuvre through confined locations.
Using live stream video cameras on the robot’s front, Spot can look into questionable packages or locate a safe path for people.
The robot is perfect for disposing of bombs since it can be controlled remotely from a safe distance.
Additionally, the robot dog can be used in building patrol settings, as demonstrated at Mar-a-Lago.
But the mechanical canine wasn’t created merely to serve as the president-elect’s watchdog.
According to Boston Dynamics’ website, it can be used on “factory floors to construction sites to research labs and beyond.”
Spot has been used in the manufacturing, education, energy, and construction sectors.
However, the most well-known use of the robot dog is in the government sector, primarily in the US security service.
Spot was used by New York police in 2022 to “save lives, protect people, and protect officers” before being discontinued as a result of public outcry.
What is Spot’s performance as a security dog, then?
According to Boston Dynamics’ specifications, the base robotic dog is 70 cm tall and little over 32 kg in weight.
For comparison, a typical German shepherd weighs between 30 and 40 kg and reaches a height of 65 cm.
However, the German shepherd is far quicker. Spot’s maximum speed is 1.6 meters per second.
Additionally, Spot provides some human interaction. At Mar-a-Lago, a secret service agent was observed interacting with the dog.
According to Boston Dynamics, the robotic dog requires recharging every 90 minutes because it is powered by a battery, unlike a live dog.
The White House is dog-free.
As the First Family in office, the Trumps have never formally had a dog.
As Trump begins his second term as president, it is unclear if that will alter.
Trump’s home without a dog drew criticism during the last presidential campaign.
Even “Dog Lovers for Joe” ran an advertisement criticising Mr. Trump for becoming the first president in a century to avoid having a dog in the White House.
Trump openly addressed the matter in a 2019 speech, stating that while he “wouldn’t mind having” a dog, he didn’t have the time.
Additionally, Trump stated that he believed it would appear “a little phoney”
“How would I look walking a dog on the White House lawn?” he asked his supporters during a rally.
