After a disaster like an earthquake, robot dogs are now helping rescue teams find people. These four-legged machines are fast, strong, and can work without getting tired. They help rescue workers find survivors in very dangerous places.
Robot dogs like Spot are about 70 centimeters tall and weigh 32 kilograms. They can walk, climb stairs, and move through broken buildings and rubble. They have special cameras and sensors. These sensors can find heat from human bodies under rubble. They can also find dangerous gases before human workers enter damaged buildings. The robots can make maps of damaged areas. They work for about 90 minutes before needing to recharge.
Why are robot dogs useful? They can go to places that are too dangerous for humans. They check buildings first without putting rescue workers at risk. A robot goes into a damaged building first. It checks if the space is safe. It finds survivors and checks if the air is breathable. This information helps rescue teams plan their work safely.
Many cities now use robot dogs in their rescue operations. The Los Angeles Fire Department tested them after fires and explosions in 2022. Singapore's Civil Defence Force used them to check underground tunnels and flooded areas. In New Zealand, robot dogs helped reduce the time needed to check damaged buildings by nearly 40 percent. These examples show that robot dogs are becoming important tools for rescue teams around the world.