Robot Dog Jams Networks and Devices During Police Raids
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has introduced a four-legged robot named NEO, designed to disrupt wireless transmissions of smart home devices. Unveiled at the 2024 Border Security Expo, NEO is built on the Quadruped Unmanned Ground Vehicle (Q-UGV) platform and resembles Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot. According to DHS Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) director Benjamine Huffman, NEO uses an antenna array to overload home networks, effectively jamming Wi-Fi and other wireless protocols used by smart home devices. Additionally, it provides video and audio feedback, enabling officers to communicate with individuals in a target area remotely.
NEO was developed following an incident where a suspect used a doorbell camera to ambush FBI agents, resulting in fatalities and injuries. The robot aims to prevent such scenarios by disabling smart devices that could pose risks during law enforcement operations. Furthermore, DHS has created the ‘FLETC Smart House’ to train officers on the potential threats posed by smart home devices. While NEO can’t affect hard-wired devices, it can disable the radio frequencies used by most wireless IoT devices, enhancing safety for law enforcement officers.