Robot Dogs on the Border

The southern border can be an inhospitable place for man and beast, and that is exactly why a machine may excel there.

Brenda Long, Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) program manager. S&T has partnered with U.S. Customs & Border Protection to develop robotic dogs for border security.

• A new robotic dog has been successfully created for use on the southern border.
• The robot can transmit real-time video and data while being controlled using a laptop or a handheld remote. It has been engineered and tested to operate in harsh environments that are difficult for border personnel (high temperatures, diverse terrain, etc.).
• The robot dog has not been officially deployed into the field yet. However, the Dept. of Homeland Security says, “Don’t be surprised if in the future we see robot ‘Fido’ out in the field, walking side-by-side with CBP personnel.”
• The robot dog was designed in a partnership with U.S. company Ghost Robotics. The company is also engineering similar technology for U.S. allies, such as the U.K., Australia, and Singapore.
• Why It Matters: This project focused on building a machine to help fill gaps in border security, signaling that government use of robots could increase in the future.

“Robot Dogs Take Another Step Towards Deployment at the Border:” DHS.gov

“Meet The Startup Behind The Robot ‘Dogs’ Set To Patrol The Southern Border:” Forbes Article