For the first few years, robot dogs were all show, pulled into social trends to prove they wouldn't trip, open doors, and dance. Despite their futuristic look, the purpose and application of robot dogs remained unclear. But now, with Quadruped robots, that phase is over. Sellafield Ltd is using Boston Dynamics' Spot robot dogs to decommission and clean up a notorious nuclear site in the UK. Surprisingly, Robot dogs picked up jobs that are tedious or too risky for humans, serving the exact purpose all engineers had in mind (making people’s lives easier and risk-free) when building robots.

Here is a list of jobs robot dogs perform.

The Nuclear Waste Detective & Cleaner

Sellafield in England is one of the most hazardous nuclear locations on Earth, and Spot bots have reduced human labor on this site significantly and reduced the overall risk factor. These bots come with LiDAR, alpha and gamma detectors, and radiation-resisting sensors. They map the entire contaminated site and conduct equipment assessments. Spot robo’s program is built in compliance with the Createc, AtkinsRéalis, and the UK's Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. To expand on this use case, a similar bot is used across Chornobyl's New Safe Confinement zone. It carried a radiation-detection payload. Additionally, a robot dog is being fitted out to characterize radioactive material during the decade-long decommissioning of Spain's Santa María de Garoña plant.

Police Patrol

The New York Police Department (NYPD) made the best yet most controversial use of robotic canines nicknamed "Digidog" to counter high-risk tactical ops such as barricaded suspects and hostage standoffs.

In 2020, there was a lot of backlash when NYPD leased a 70-pound Boston Dynamics Spot. But due to public outcry over city militarization, the contract got canceled. 

In 2023, it returned. Mayor Eric Adams announced Digidog's redeployment at a Times Square press conference.

Offshore Rig Inspector

Another tough spot taken up by the robot dog is offshore rig inspection. Boston Dynamics has sent a Spot unit  200 miles offshore to its Mad Dog rig in the Gulf of Mexico.

It screens gauges, valves, and other hard-to-reach equipment. It eliminates the need to send human resources (technicians) into hot, cramped spaces.

A cherry on top: these bots don’t need a helicopter seat, and they don’t even get seasick.

Bomb Squad Member

Since public safety around the globe requires ingenious solutions, law enforcement agencies are leaning towards employing robotic canines to handle high-risk situations like bomb detection.

A Dutch Defence Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service uses robot dogs to assess risk; the philosophy is simple: send the bot first, keeping human resources at a safe distance, and assess the threat before moving in.

Many US safety departments, including the Massachusetts State Police and the Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Sheriff's Office, follow the same logic for anything that looks too risky.

Farmhand

The ability to master terrain that bogs down traditional wheels and limits aerial drones is what gives robot dogs the real edge and dominance in the field.

One prime example is OmniAgrobot, a quadruped developed by Ce Yang's Agricultural Robotics Lab at the University of Minnesota. It is built to navigate mud and ruts that trap wheeled rovers.

The OmniAgrobot walks closely through crops to identify plant disease and stress early.

This practical versatility is exactly why "robot dogs" are rapidly migrating from high-tech research stages to tedious, dangerous, and rugged jobs in the real world.