New York Mayor Defends Digidog Use in Manhattan Rescue

Eric Adams defended the £60,000 purchase of Boston Dynamics Digidogs, saying their thermal imaging cameras were used to determine that no one but six people known to be injured or dead were trapped under the rubble. Photo: JEENAH MOON/NYTNS/Redux/eevine

New York City Mayor Eric Adams defended the controversial use of robot dogs after praising their work in a first-of-its-kind rescue mission in a devastated parking lot.

Last week, a futuristic «Digidog» was sent with several drones to hunt for the wounded and bodies at the scene of an accident in Manhattan's financial district that was deemed too dangerous for firefighters.

< p> Mr Adams used the press conference to defend his office's $75,000 (£60,000) Boston Dynamics robots purchase, saying their thermal imaging cameras were used to determine that no one but six people who known to have been injured or dead, was not locked underwater. rubbish.

According to the manufacturer, robot dogs were first used in such real conditions.

“Some people call them toys. This is not game time. It's in real time,» Adams said at a press conference.

«This administration will not be afraid to do whatever it takes to save the lives of New Yorkers and save the lives of first responders.»

«The robotic dog is the key to the safety of participants»'< p>Laura Cavanagh, New York City Fire Chief, said the building collapse provided a «unique opportunity» to use the Digidog.

“Our robotic dog is the key to the safety of the participants,” she said.

“He can get into areas that pose a great risk to our firefighters and rescuers. It can also listen in on what's going on inside, allowing us to hear a potential patient who might be asking for help.»

Robodog in New York

Digidog is still working on a few fixes, however.< /p>

Video of the robot in action shows it falling on its side shortly after approaching a pile of rubble, and a voice is heard saying, «The dog didn't like it very much.»

Unnecessary and dystopian

Mr. Adams responded to recent criticism that robots, especially the one bought by the New York City Police Department, are unnecessary and even «dystopian.»

The department caused outrage when it tested the Digidog during an arrest at the police station. Manhattan estate in 2021 before being used in a hostage situation in the Bronx.

Critics said the robots demonstrated the increased militarization of the US police.

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez described the dog as «a robotic ground-based surveillance drone.»

Albert Fox Kahn, a lawyer and executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, told The New York Times that while the New York City Fire Department may have valid goals for saving the lives of such robots does not make them suitable tools for the police.

Mr. Adams, he added, appears to be using one application to justify another.