Meet Spot, the robotic guard dog now patrolling the ruins of Pompeii. In 2013, Pompeii was declared by UNESCO as being on the verge of being declared unsafe unless Italian authorities spent more money on security and site inspection. Spot the robotic guard dog costed the Italians 75,000 dollars (67,000 euros) but considering what the AI-empowered smart dog can do the price is more than reasonable.
Spot was developed by the US based engineering and robotics design company, Boston Dynamics , but he does lots more than just protecting the site from intruders, reports The Guardian .
Robotic Guard Dogs Engineered For Many Situations
Pompeii’s smart robotic guard dog has been employed under the Smart@POMPEI project which “aspires to an intelligent, sustainable and inclusive management of the Park [and] makes use of an integrated technological solution,” say the park authorities.
Spot’s role is not just limited to guarding the site from intruders, it can also identify structural and safety issues , and inspect underground tunnels dug by relic thieves . He can inspect the smallest nooks and crannies, enter any space, patrol at night when the tourists leave, and provide a live feed for humans situated off-site.
