User:Max Lederman/Robot Dogs

Entertainment purposes as pets
Robotic dogs as household pets were first developed in the 1990s, with Sony releasing its flagship robot dog AIBO in 1999. Despite being produced in limited quantities, AIBO had a loyal following before production was stopped in 2006. These robots were capable of interacting with a human and its environment, and of somewhat developing a distinct personality. This led to owners of AIBO robot dogs viewing them as pets, considering them loved members of the family, and going so far as to hold funerals for them. AIBO owners also considered the ease of owning a robot dog as a major reason in favor of AIBO: the dog does not use the bathroom and you can turn it off when you are gone for an extended period of time. Since AIBO, robotic dogs have only gotten better in quality in terms of ability to interact but also in the volume of actions available, like in the case of Zoomer.

Benefits of Robot Dogs
A 2021 study during the coronavirus pandemic demonstrated the value of robotic dogs for the elderly. Often isolated and unable to care for a living dog, a robotic counterpart lessened feelings of loneliness. They provided a vehicle with which the elderly could communicate, making the elderly more active but also happier.

A 2019 study compared the effectiveness of real and robotic dogs as therapeutic support for individuals with severe autism. In the case of children, living dogs were significantly more effective in helping with social communication, however there was no difference found between living and robotic dogs in the case of adults with severe ASD.

In Industry
Robot Dogs such as Boston Dynamic’s Spot are being used to facilitate different industrial functions. Equipped with a wide variety of sensors ranging from cameras to noise detectors to heat sensors, robot dogs have been employed by companies like National Grid to assist in the maintenance of power grids. Since they can also carry large weights, robot dogs have also been used in manufacturing and warehouses to facilitate transportation of goods. With their ability to traverse rugged terrain due to their quadruped nature combined with having many sensors, robot dogs like Spot have also been used by the New York Fire Department to help assess and collect data in the midst of a disaster, testing for things ranging from structural integrity to gas leaks.

In surveillance
Different cities have attempted to use robot dogs for police surveillance, having the dogs roam the streets as active deterrents. New York attempted to implement Digidog for these measures but after public outcry because of its dystopian perception, this project was scrapped. Shanghai, during its 2022 coronavirus lockdown used robot dog Preserved Egg to guarantee that the public is following covid response measures.

In the military
Due to their agile nature and ability to be equipped with a wide variety of sensors, robotic dogs have also been adopted for military use. The US Army, Navy, Air Force and more all have contracts with Ghost Robotics, who provide a robot dog that can run and swim while being equipped with chemical threat detectors and more. Most importantly, these robot dogs can be equipped with guns, making them mobile, non human, turrets.