The Los Angeles City Council on May 23 voted to accept a donation of a dog-like “robot” for the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), despite growing concerns among residents that they could be used for surveillance.
The council voted 8–4 to approve the Los Angeles Police Foundation’s donation of the robot, valued at $277,917.80, according to the office of the city clerk.
Officially known as a “Quadruped Unmanned Ground Vehicle” (QUGV), the robot is manufactured by the engineering and robotics company Boston Dynamics, which refers to it as “Spot.”
At nearly 28 inches and weighing 70 pounds, Spot can be controlled via a tablet application and built-in cameras, and can carry and power up to 30 pounds of inspection equipment while moving across loose gravel, grass, curbs, and stairs, according to its makers….