Go, Go Gadgets!
PICTURED ABOVE
Louisville Metro Police Detective Michael Augst demonstrates how the articulating arm on the bomb squad’s robot McCree can reach high above. (Photo by Critley King-Smith)
Whether they were portrayed as childlike and friendly in Disney’s Wall-e or mysterious and potentially murderous like those seen in the 20th Century Fox smash hit I, ROBOT, Hollywood has flooded theaters and living rooms with various versions of automated individuals for decades.
One thing the movies got right is that robots are among us. However, they are a bit machine-like and much more useful than menacing. Quickly becoming a vital tool for law enforcement, robots have taken on what might be surprising roles for agencies—safety, de-escalation, and community engagement, according to Louisville Metro Police Department members.
At LMPD, robots are utilized by the bomb squad and the SWAT team, though the technology’s appearance and specifications vastly differ between the units.
Squad Goal—Safety
Two robots belong to the LMPD’s bomb squad—the newest, a 1,000-pounder dubbed McCree after Los Angeles Police detective Arleigh McCree, who died from a bomb explosion on Feb. 8, 1986.
According to squad commander Sgt. Anthony Roberts, the approximately 2-year-old robot can be operated from a vehicle up to a mile away during the right conditions, giving officers a safer vantage point.
“It allows team members to operate from a safe distance,” said Roberts. “I would much rather have this robot damaged from a blast than an officer killed any day. The robot is replaceable. A life isn’t.”
For its role on the bomb squad, the robot McCree has audio, video and x-ray capabilities and can take shots on suspicious devices, lift, push, pull, grab and crush objects. Officers have a broader field of vision and can look over and under tall and low objects thanks to an articulating arm. This makes the bot useful as another set of eyes, should an active shooter situation occur, and during simple calls outs, such as a farmer finding old dynamite on their property. McCree can also be a rescue bot with abilities to break glass and cut seat belts.
Roberts said the bomb squad’s robots could assist when working with the agency’s SWAT team by carrying throw phones or conducting reconnaissance in areas better suited to larger, more rugged bots. However, McCree and its older counterpart’s benefits can also be their drawbacks: weight and size. Officers driving the bots must consider the strength of a structure’s floor before sending them upstairs and allow room for landing when they descend. Battery life also must be considered, as well as sound.
LMPD Detective Michael Augst demonstrates the older of the bomb squads two robots. While the battery life was shorter and points of articulation less, the older bot is still useful to the agency. (Photo by Critley King-Smith)
In addition to being operated via antenna signal from a safe distance, the robot can be driven by two very familiar objects—PlayStation and Xbox controllers. The controllers are utilized when the bot is tethered and are beneficial when deploying to a location or during training.
When operating at a distance via screen, Roberts explained that one’s depth perception can be skewed and that it’s easy to forget where the robot’s body and articulators are, making tethered the preferable training option until the officer is comfortable.
Moreover, training takes time for officers to gain proficiency in robot operation.
“It all depends on the person and how many hours they are willing to put forth getting on the robot controlling it, because you have to learn some very minute fine motor skills to go pick things up off the ground, open doors, or even drive it through a door,” said Roberts.
The officers who operate McCree have each attended the FBI’s Hazardous Device School, which expands the technique and knowledge they are willing to use when protecting not only Louisville, but also surrounding counties that occasionally need the help of the agency’s robot for specific incidents.
Kids, Recruitment and the Community
Kids love robots— according to Roberts, who, along with his team, take their metal companions to schools and community events.
“They get excited and talk to it and not us,” he said of Louisville’s youngest residents. “They interact with it like it’s a person—they’ve even asked us if we have taken it on (the TV show) Battle Bots.”
LMPD Public Information Officer Beth Ruoff also cited the robot and other agency technology as recruiting tools that showcase the various units in which a potential future officer could work.
On the Team
Equipped with a much different cadre of chips and gears, LMPD’s SWAT team utilizes several smaller bots that give them the advantage of small spaces, extra eyes and, similarly to the Bomb Squad, additional communication options.
A FLIR heat-sensing camera, about the size of a GoPro, can easily fits onto a pole and gives officers an advantage when trying to see specific high or low areas, such as an attic or crawl space, is safe for entry, said Matt Sanders of LMPD SWAT.
Throwbots—small roving microrobots on wheels can, as their name implies, be thrown through a window into a structure and can withstand falls from up to 30 feet.
LMPD SWAT team member Matt Sanders shows how one of the SWAT team’s Throwbots could be used during a call out. (Photo by Critley King-Smith)
Resistant to water, dust, or impact from rocks, along with having infrared technology, Sandars said the small bot has a tail-like hook that can provide stability or attach to an officer’s kit. These are brought on every operation.
The tank-like robot Avatar resembles a small, rugged remote-control vehicle. Its two-way communication and came duel cameras make it useful when dealing with barricaded subjects, while it’s low profile allows it to move easily under and around cars. It can carry throw phones, is outfitted with light and can transmit audio and video to a hand-held controller
To practice with their robotics, Sanders said SWAT practices by getting as much “stick time” as possible—often putting themselves through the paces of finding objects strategically placed within their tactical training facility.
LMPD’s SWAT consists of approximant 20 full-time and 20 part-time members. Most can operate the team’s devices—except for the Lemur, a small, unmanned aircraft (SUA), which requires specialized training and certification. The SUA has most functions the other robots are equipped with, with some extra special features—such as the ability to accept a direct call—eliminating the need for a throw phone. As a SUA, it can go where other robots cannot. It can fly for approximately 40 minutes and provide two-way audio and one way video surveillance for 10 hours.
Sanders added that his agency strives to educate the public about the Lemur. SUAs’ common name—drone—often conjures up scary images of spies or military strikes. However, the long-time SWAT member said the Lemur’s sole goal is to be flown inside a structure to find the bad guys and then, it’s piloted back to the controller.
(Photo by Critley King-Smith)
Robotics in Modern Policing
Sanders recalled old advice when he joined SWAT nine years ago that it was all about breaching the door and getting into a structure—flooding it like water. Since then, however, it’s been determined certain risks come with blindly rushing in.
“LMPD SWAT’s mission statement is simple—save lives,” he said. “So, forcing a gun battle is not necessarily the best way to do things. Now, it’s about using tools and technology to de-escalate the situation…We want to give the suspect every opportunity to surrender peacefully before we make entry.”
Considerations
Robots are varied and customizable. Choosing which ones to purchase for an agency Roberts said is about finding the one that fits each specific department. Not every robot is made the same, he said.
Choosing a brand and build easily serviced near the agency is also wise, the Bomb Squad commander explained, adding that LMPD’s bomb bot was purchased from and repaired, when and if needed, in nearby Tennessee.
Before an agency purchases a robot, Sanders suggested they test the waters by understanding what they want to accomplish with the technology, talking to surrounding agencies who utilize similar devices and attending conferences that put them on display. Many companies will send departments their robots for a trial period to train with and deploy to aid in decision making.
Robots, he added, are expensive, but worth it.
