A robot dog named "Spot," made by Boston Dynamics, is the latest tool in the arsenal of the US Secret Service.
The device has recently been spotted patrolling the perimeter of recently re-elected President Donald Trump's resort in Palm Beach, Florida.
They have no weapons, and each can be controlled remotely or automatically, as long as its route is pre-programmed.
Passers-by are warned by a sign on each of Spot's legs: "DO NOT PET HIM."
"I'm not sure anyone is tempted to pet these robot dogs.
"They don't seem overly cuddly," says Melissa Mickelson, a political scientist at Menlo College.
A video of Spot strutting around the property went viral on TikTok, with reactions ranging from "cool" and "cute" to "creepy", and he became the subject of mockery on American evening entertainment shows.
But their mission is not funny at all.
"Protecting the president is a top priority," said Anthony Guglielmi, the head of communications for the US Secret Service, in a statement to the BBC.
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In the months leading up to the US presidential election, Trump was the target of two apparent assassination attempts.
The first occurred in July at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, while the second occurred at the Mar-a-Lago golf course in September.
Citing "operational security measures", the Secret Service declined to answer specific questions from the BBC about the use of robotic dogs by Trump's security team, including when the agency began using the device at his primary residence. .
Boston Dynamics also declined to answer specific questions, though it confirmed that the Secret Service uses its Spot robot.
So why is the Secret Service using them right now?
Ron Williams, a former Secret Service agent who is now CEO of security and risk management firm Talon Companies, suspects that the assassination attempts on Trump accelerated the agency's initiative to "modernize technology that can enhance the ability to detect and repel attacks."
At Mar-a-Lago, where most of the property was discovered, Williams said robotic dogs have long been sorely needed.
"They can cover a much larger area" than humans alone, Williams said of the dogs, which he expects will eventually become a common sight.
And it's not just about the Secret Service.
Williams said robotic dogs are increasingly becoming a tool used by militaries and law enforcement agencies around the world.
Demining Squad in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, who bought Spota this spring, uses this device to screen for potential explosives, according to Boston Dynamix promo materials.
Last year, the NYPD added robot dogs to its own service despite complaints of "dystopian overuse of police force," according to Wired.
On the other side of the planet, Ukraine has them used for reconnaissance in conflict which was caused by the Russian invasion of 2022, reports the Kyiv post.
Crash, Spote, crash
Spot is known for its mobility.
It can climb up and down stairs, as well as crawl into tight spaces.
It can even open doors.
But its ability to detect potential threats is high on the list of reasons why so many agencies seem willing to pay up to $75.000 for the device.
The robotic dogs are "equipped with surveillance technology and a whole range of advanced sensors to support our protective operations," Secret Service communications chief Guljelmi said.
The device is equipped with multiple cameras that generate a 3D map of the environment, according to Boston Dynemix's marketing material, and may also have accessories such as thermal sensors.
But none of this happens without a human master.
"They basically have a joystick to control the robotic dogs as they walk around," says Missy Cummings, an engineering professor at George Mason University who directs the university's Center for Autonomy and Robotics.
The spot can also move automatically along pre-programmed routes.
Unlike their human and real canine equivalents, robot dogs are not distracted by the sights, sounds and smells they encounter.
But despite their many impressive features, these devices can be disabled.
"Just spritz it with Aqua Net hair spray in the 'face,'" says Cummings.
"And that's enough to prevent the cameras from working properly."
And while the robot dog at Mar-a-Lago isn't armed, she says competitors seem to be experimenting with models that are.
"People are trying to weaponize these dogs," Cummings adds, citing a Chinese model with a rifle attached that she learned about at a robotics show this week.
They won't replace humans, says Melissa Mickelson, who compares the devices to automated driving technology in some vehicles.
"We don't have a lot of faith in the ability of cars to drive themselves," Mikelson says.
Secret Agents serving at Mar-a-Lago are seen patrolling past the Spot.
"We still need those people behind the scenes who use human judgment and can step in if there's a technological setback," she says.
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