‘Spot’ the robot is a highly agile and multi-purpose robotics platform developed and built by Boston Dynamics – a US-based global leader in robotics technology.

The TRG Bomb Response Unit has maintained a robotics capability for many years now, with robots typically deployed to inspect, carry and render safe suspicious items or to assist with communicating with suspects in siege situations. Unlike other robots designed primarily for bomb response tasks, which are built on wheel or track platforms, Spot is built on four legs which provides an increased level of agility and flexibility, particularly on harsh, uneven terrain or staircases.

The ‘arm’ feature on the Spot robot also provides a more flexible and multi-purpose tool to assist with a greater variety of tasks, from simple ‘pick up and carry’ tasks through to more complex tasks such as opening doors or tasks requiring both grip and dexterity usually only achieved with human hands.