Pilot program at Miami International Airport shows how robotic dogs equipped with advanced sensors can detect explosives and narcotics from a safe distance.
David Brown | Contributing Writer
Researchers from FIU recently demonstrated the effectiveness of a new robotic K-9 technology at Miami International Airport designed to improve airport security.
The demonstration was led by FIU’s Forensics Team in collaboration with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office at the airport to pilot a Boston Dynamics robotic dog equipped with advanced olfactory sensors to identify explosives and narcotics.
The demonstration featured several scenarios involving parked cars outside a concourse at the airport, in which the robot would use its olfactory sensors and UV Laser Raman technology to analyze threats.
During the testing of scenarios with FIU’s College of Engineering and Computing, a trained K-9 dog would approach a parked vehicle, followed by the robot, showing that while both K-9 units would identify a threat, the robot would be more exact in identifying the threat to a chemical level and could do so from a distance.
The robot utilized technology developed by Alakai Defense Systems in Largo, where the Global Forensic & Justice Center is located. The technology developed allows the robot to analyze chemical compounds without requiring investigators or K-9 dogs to approach potentially dangerous objects.
The project reflects the decades of work by the Global Forensic & Justice Center in its efforts to transfer technology to forensic applications and national defense.
The demonstration of robotic K-9 technology at Miami International Airport is part of efforts to help law enforcement more rapidly identify explosive materials to make airport security safer, with potential lasting implementations of robotic K-9 units.
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