300 Boston Dynamics workers sign petition against robot dog sale
More than 300 employees asked executives to stop selling modified Spot robots to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
By Malik Salazar ·
Boston Dynamics executives defended a contract to sell robot dogs to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement after more than 300 employees signed a petition demanding the sale be halted.
The Department of Homeland Security awarded a $1.3 million contract to Radeco, a Connecticut company, on September 25. Radeco will provide ICE with four modified versions of Boston Dynamics’ Spot quadruped robots. The robots will be marketed under the name Cerberus.
In early September, Boston Dynamics workers sent a petition letter to company executives. The letter contained more than 300 signatures, half of which were anonymous. The 300 signatories represent a portion of the company’s total workforce of approximately 1,400 people. Workers shared copies of the petition with The Boston Globe and WBUR public radio station.
The petition stated that the risk to the company is too great to continue with the deal. One signatory wrote, “Many of us have gotten messages from friends and family, asking us in disbelief and horror if this news is true, and how we can live with ourselves if it is.” The letter described the employees as people who love showing off their work to friends and family and who enjoy challenging themselves to innovate.
The contract describes the Cerberus robots as intended to detect radiation, toxic gas leaks, and explosive threats in urban environments or disaster zones. The system enables remote observation and inspection missions. A key component is an oxygen sensor designed to ensure air quality is breathable when personnel enter confined spaces such as tunnels. The robots also feature a camera with 30 times zoom capability, 360 degree cameras, and infrared thermal imaging.
Boston Dynamics executives stood by the deal while stating that the robots would not be weaponized. The company has not announced a decision to cancel the contract following the employee pushback. The $1.3 million contract remains active with Radeco.
The dispute highlights internal disagreement over the commercial direction of the robotics firm. Boston Dynamics continues to operate with a workforce of roughly 1,400 employees. The Cerberus platform includes specific hardware upgrades for environmental detection and visual surveillance.
