US Plans to Use Robot Dogs to Patrol Border with Mexico
The American Southwest is a region combining harsh terrain, extreme temperatures and various other non-ecological threats that can create dangerous obstacles for those patrolling the border. The territory is vast, and monitoring it is crucial for US security, says the Department of Homeland Security.
This is why the Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is offering US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) a helping hand (or “paw”) with new technology that can help expand CBP personnel capabilities while increasing their safety.
S&T has a good understanding of CBP's technological needs in this area. As the research and development arm of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the directorate is always looking for solutions to support CBP's complex mission. For example, S&T is currently supplementing CBP's human personnel with four-legged mechanical reinforcements to help the agency allocate resources better.
“The southern border can be an inhospitable place for both humans and animals, and that is exactly why a machine can succeed there. This S&T-led initiative focuses on automated ground surveillance vehicles, or what we call “AGSV.” Essentially, the AGSV program is about… robot dogs”
The goal of the program is to use technology to increase CBP's presence and reduce people's exposure to life-threatening situations.
The S&T AGSV program worked with Ghost Robotics, an industry partner that develops advanced AGSV systems, to achieve this goal. When Ghost Robotics was brought on board, they saw an opportunity to adapt a version of their existing robodog for CBP's multifaceted mission.
According to Gavin Kennelly, Ghost Robotics' chief product officer, their 45-kilogram robot dog was built for exactly the kind of work CBP needs: “This is a rugged four-legged robot. It crosses all types of natural terrain, including sand, rocks and hills, as well as man-made environments such as stairs.”
Given the region's needs, adding four-legged mechanical reinforcements is a sensible use of resources. They can even be used as cover, since many types of illegal activity occur in harsh border zones.
“As everywhere, you have standard criminal behavior, but along the border you can also deal with human smuggling, drug smuggling, and other contraband, including firearms or even, potentially, weapons of mass destruction. This activity can be carried out by anyone, from a single individual to transnational criminal organizations, terrorists or hostile governments”
Becker elaborated on the dangers, adding: “Operating in the desert or mountains, agents and officers have to contend with rough terrain, intense heat and humidity, and of course they may encounter those who want to do harm. But there are also many risks closer to home. For example, when tactical border patrol operators go into cities or ports, they may face hazardous environmental conditions, unpredictable people or hostile threats. All of these situations can be inherently dangerous.”
Long also acknowledged the challenges CBP faces: “Much of our work here at S&T is about understanding DHS's current operational needs and finding innovative technologies to support them. We fully understand that CBP's mission is broad and the risks to personnel are high, which is why S&T's work to fill capability gaps is so important. That's exactly why we believe a robot dog is a great fit.”
S&T worked with CBP and Ghost Robotics for about two and a half years on specifications, development and capability testing. This collaboration led to important improvements to the AGSV platform focused on CBP's mission.
“After talking with our partners at CBP INVNT, we assembled a team, and together we identified capability gaps, defined challenges, and developed criteria and test models called “use exercises.” Then, having set the bar for expectations regarding the technology, we handed all of this over to our contractor”
Before moving to practical application, the robot dogs first went to a facility in Lorton, Virginia, for the “initial payload integration” stage. So-called “payloads” are sensor packages that, once mounted on the robot, can transmit real-time video and other data back to the human monitoring the AGSV.
The team evaluated the ease and integration of loading various payload cameras, sensors and radios onto the AGSV, then tested the ability to control them from a laptop or handheld remote controller. Movement over asphalt, grass and hills was also assessed.
After successfully passing tests in Lorton, everything was moved to El Paso, Texas, for extended testing and evaluation. Science and technology capability assessments determined whether the programmable dogs could handle the assigned task. Along the border, challenges intensified as use-case exercises began. At this stage, the robots' capabilities were assessed in realistic scenarios.
Long's team worked with the US Army's Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD) and Ghost Robotics to ensure the robot dogs were ready for a variety of tasks. The El Paso exercises required the ability to maneuver in harsh conditions, work in confined spaces, withstand high temperatures, and perform tasks in low-oxygen conditions, situations that are especially dangerous for CBP agents and officers.
As an example of the desired flexibility, Ghost Robotics designed the payload capabilities as an open system. The advantage is that it simplifies integrating different types of cameras (360-degree, thermal imaging, night vision, zoom) and sensors (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear) into the robots.
Once mounted, the payload connects to a high-performance processor that runs the AGSV. During use, the AGSV maintains communication with the operator via standard frequencies such as radio, Wi-Fi, GPS or other means. To ensure the AGSV could deliver as promised, they were tested by climbing hills, descending ravines and rocks while carrying a 9-kilogram payload.
Testing then moved to an indoor training center built to resemble a residential house. There, the robot dogs faced a scenario simulating an encounter with potentially hostile people. In remote-control mode and via wireless connection, the operator can maneuver the AGSV to enter the structure, move through hallways, look around corners, and climb stairs.
Later, in a desert area, the dogs were programmed to simulate patrol duty. In this autonomous mode, the AGSVs drove and made turns when they reached predetermined GPS waypoints. After completing their rounds, they returned to base. The robots did this both day and night. Additional testing included simulating inspections outside, inside and under railcars at train stations.
Endurance testing was also an important part of the overall exercises. Data was collected on battery life and how terrain affected that endurance. Fortunately, when the Ghost Robotics team worked on its robot dog for CBP, it focused much effort on locomotion efficiency. Their goal was for a battery-powered dog to carry out longer missions with maximum payload.
Kennelly says the robodog's legs are so advanced and sensitive that “it has the ability to sense through its motors, it can assess friction and automatically adjust to uneven or slippery surfaces.” This self-correcting ability makes it an ideal platform for off-road operations in varied conditions.
Other mechanisms the team evaluated included basic field maintenance and repair, such as the ease of replacing worn “paw” treads. Valuable information was gathered from each exercise. Long explained the process: “When industry develops a prototype, we (together with our partners in the field) evaluate the new technology and give feedback to the developer. This way, the next iteration of the technology does what we need and fills the capability gap we are targeting.”
Observing robot dog development and testing programs in real-world scenarios is a great example of how S&T strives to bring the most innovative advances into DHS.
