ARMY AL&T
risks to each and both are being utilized to their strengths.
CONCLUSION Tere are many ways that dogs as pets, service animals, MWDs, K9s and ESAs improve the lives of civilians and mili- tary members. While each has its unique purpose, dogs remain a vital mission part- ner in service alongside our warfighters, both in and out of active-duty service, and the military wouldn’t be the same without them, four-legged robots included.
For more information about U.S. mili- tary working
dogs, go to https://
www.defense.gov/Multimedia/Experi- ence/Four-Legged-Fighters.
HOLLY COMANSE provides contract support
to the U.S. Army Acquisition
Support Center from Honolulu, Hawaii, as a writer and editor for Army AL&T magazine and TMGL, LLC. She previously served as a content moderator and data specialist training artificial intelligence for a news app. She holds a B.A. in journalism from the University of Nevada, Reno.
WORKING LIKE A DOG
The four-legged robot from Boston Dynamics, named Spot, made an appearance at AUSA in October 2024 demonstrating its ability to navigate stairs, lift objects and open doors. (Photo by the author, USAASC)
automatically. A development priority was for the robot to be as terrain agnos- tic as possible, handling stairs and uneven ground with ease. Te legs can operate independently, counterbalance and create resistance against threats. AUSA attendees had the opportunity to witness the robot dog named Spot in live demonstrations. Spot has been seen patrolling in Palm Beach, Florida, as part of the security measures put in place by the Secret Service to protect President Donald Trump.
Approaching a threat can be dangerous for K9s and their handlers, but Spot can investigate and deescalate a potentially hazardous situation while the operator is at a safe distance. K9s can respond intuitively and immediately to a situation, but they also can get tired or distracted. Spot can be programmed to follow an automated schedule and monitor a perimeter for hours without ever taking a break. While a K9 is an active deterrent, Spot acts as a passive deterrent. Tere are benefits and
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