Startup seeks robot dog walkers

A startup in San Francisco named Dimensional posted a job listing for individuals to walk robot dogs, according to reports from ABC and The New York Times. The job was advertised on the Facebook group "Bay Area Jobs" at the beginning of the month.

Job details and compensation

The position required candidates to handle robot dogs that could carry equipment weighing about 15 kilograms and offered a pay rate of $20 per hour, similar to the wage for walking real dogs. However, the job involved longer walking sessions, lasting between four and six hours, due to the robots’ need for more time for "elimination."

Challenges with the robot dogs

The New York Times reported that the robot dogs can be as stubborn as real dogs and may break down during walks due to overheating. The job posting has since been removed, possibly due to these challenges or public reaction.

Robot dogs in public spaces

The first version 2.0 of the robot dogs has already been spotted on the streets of San Francisco. Separately, a robot dog equipped with a precision rifle has returned to service with the New York Police Department, highlighting the growing use of such technology in public safety.

Regulation of robot technology

In a related development, the United States has decided to ban the import of foreign-made humanoid robots, signaling increasing regulatory attention on the development and use of advanced robotics.