Seattle Police Introduce SPOT Robot to Help Bomb Squad Handle Explosive Threats

The Seattle Police Department’s Arson/Bomb Squad has introduced a new SPOT robot to help technicians respond to explosive threats and other hazardous situations. The robot was purchased with funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), approved by the Seattle City Council in April 2026.

Unlike the department’s older tracked robots, SPOT moves on four legs and can navigate stairs and tight spaces. It weighs less than 100 pounds and can be transported in a regular pickup truck, making it easier for bomb technicians to bring it to an incident.

The robot is equipped with a 360-degree camera, microphone, and mechanical arm that can open doors, grasp, lift, move, and place objects. Operators can control it remotely, including from nearly a mile away, allowing technicians to inspect suspicious devices while staying at a safer distance.

According to SPD, the robot is exclusively intended for explosive-device response and the inspection of potential chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive threats. It cannot be equipped with weapons. Its camera transmits a live video feed but does not record footage, and the system does not use facial recognition or independent machine learning.

The Arson/Bomb Squad has responded to more than 600 calls this year involving bomb threats, suspicious packages, improvised explosives, and security operations. SPD says the new technology is intended to improve response capabilities and reduce risks to officers and the public.