--- title: "$75,000 FDNY Robodog Goes to Work, Falls Over Almost Immediately" description: "In a viral social media video, the FDNY's new Spot robodog is seen being deployed into a search-and-rescue zone — only to simply fall over." date: "2023-04-21" modified: "2023-04-22" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/fdny-robodog-falls-over" categories: - "Robot Dogs" - "Robotics" - "Robots and Machines" tags: - "boston dynamics" - "robodog" - "spot" - "the digest" --- # $75,000 FDNY Robodog Goes to Work, Falls Over Almost Immediately ![In a viral social media video, the FDNY's new Spot robodog is seen being deployed into a search-and-rescue zone — only to simply fall over.]() *\Image: DaDaRocks via Twitter\* ## Timber A parking garage in Manhattan [collapsed]() on Tuesday afternoon, killing one person and injuring five more. Among the New York Fire Department's first responders was a Dalmatian-spotted robodog, which unfortunately had a hell of a time while surveying the area. In a [video]() posted on social media that has since gone viral, the robot can be seen walking into the collapsed structure. But moments after it started its climb through the rubble, the robodog simply fell over onto its side, lying motionless on top of a piece of concrete — perhaps a sign it wasn't quite cut out for the job. "Oh," one onlooker can be heard saying in the video. "That didn't work out for the dog so well." We couldn't have said it better ourselves. https://twitter.com/dadarocks/status/1648443115307683843?s=20 ## Not So Hot Spot The NYFD became the [first fire agency]() in the country to purchase several Spot robodogs from Boston Dynamics last year, which cost an eye-watering $75,000 each. The use of these quadrupeds by the city's police department, however, proved far more controversial, with the agency cutting short its contract with Boston Dynamics [due to mounting pressure from critics]() back in 2021. Despite the significant backlash, the NYPD [reinstated its robodogs]() just last week. "Digidog is out of the pound," mayor Eric Adams said during a press conference at the time. ## Robodog Tumble The NYFD robodog's comical tumble is especially eyebrow-raising, given that reconnaissance and rescue missions of this kind are one of the main selling points of these machines. That said, it's important to note that the video ends before we can see if or when Spot gets up on its own — and as a Boston Dynamics spokesperson noted to us, [Spot does have self-righting capabilities]() — or needed human assistance. It was also [later confirmed]() that the FDNY robo-Dalmatian did locate the remains of the one garage employee who sadly died in the accident, so the robot did do a much better job than the video suggests. Even so, the video wasn't a great look considering the steep expense and the fact that New Yorkers [really, really hate them](). And to that end, Twitter had its own takes on the robodog's trip up. "I could have done that," one user [wrote](). *Correction April 22, 2023: Updated to clarify that Spot has self-righting capabilities and that it found the remains of a deceased individual at the scene.* **More on Spot's NYC history:** [*After Public Rage, NYPD Secretly Fires Robot Dog*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()