Portland Police Adopts Spot – The Agile Robot “Dog” for Explosives Disposal

An Agile Mobile Robot, model name “Spot,” an advanced four-legged robot manufactured by Boston Dynamics, has been assigned to Portland’s Metro Explosives Disposal Unit (MEDU)- a team of law enforcement officers dealing with explosives-related incidents.

The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) confirmed that Spot would be deployed this month.

Portland Police Gets New Robotic Explosives Expert

Portland’s Metro Explosives Disposal Unit, the Port of Portland Police Department, and the Portland Police Bureau brought in the new advanced robot to assist MEDU members, who are trained to deal with chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive threats.

Spot is a quadruped that looks like a colorful dog. It has four turquoise and black hinged legs, a black torso, and a dual-hinged accessory arm with yellow grips.

Weighing about 75 lbs, Spot is around 2 1/2 feet tall and 4 feet long. It has an arm accessory that can move objects or open doors. Spot can also navigate difficult terrain with little input, climbing, picking up items, and navigating obstacles with single commands.

Unlike traditional tracked robots, Spot can climb most stairs with minimal delay. It has cameras and microphones, so it can scout locations and be a distance communications conduit.

The robot can carry tools to deploy when investigating suspicious items, monitoring air quality, and performing other tasks. It can also be deployed for critical incidents where it is unsafe for police officers to go. The robot will not be used for patrol, and it is unarmed.

Spot was purchased in November 2024 after conducting scenario testing in the new Portland International Airport terminal before it opened. The agency paid $150,000 for Spot using Federal Emergency Management Agency Urban Areas Security Initiative grant funds.

Operated via a police officer’s remote control, Spot is not operated by artificial intelligence, although there is some limited collision avoidance technology onboard.

The new addition does not replace any existing K9 units or robots, but it gives emergency responders additional options. It will be kept in a MEDU response vehicle for quick deployment as needed.