Using a Robot to Kill
SCIUTTO: The standoff between Dallas police and the man who killed five officers came to an end after what may be a first for law enforcement, the use of a robot carrying a bomb. CNN's George Howell looks at how robots are being used by police to keep men and women in uniform safe.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is the O.D.'s robot, going towards the</s>IED. GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Remote-controlled robots have been used by the U.S. military in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to defuse explosive devices.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: D1000.</s>HOWELL: Here's a scene from the movie "The Hurt Locker".</s>UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Oh, look at that.</s>UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Nice 1-5-5, huh?</s>HOWELL: In recent years, some local police departments have invested in the technology to investigate suspicious packages and cargo. But in Dallas, a potential first in the United States, the delivery of an explosive device by a robot that was used to kill the police- shooting suspect holed up in a garage.</s>HOWELL: Negotiations to end the standoff had gone on for hours.</s>DAVID BROWN, CHIEF, DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT: We saw no other option but to use our bomb robot and place a device on its extension for it to detonate where the suspect was. Other options would have exposed our officers to grave danger.</s>HOWELL: Police have not released the details of their tactic, what type of robot was used, information about the bomb, and how it was detonated, or if the robot was even present at the time of the explosion.</s>UNIDENTIFIED ENDEAVOR ROBOTICS EMPLOYEE: It could be picking up evidence. He could be picking up potential explosive devices.</s>HOWELL: Endeavor Robotics says it has sold robots to several police departments in the Dallas area but wasn't sure if their device was used Thursday night.</s>UNIDENTIFIED ENDEAVOR ROBOTICS EMPLOYEE: Our whole purpose is to keep people at a safe distance from hazardous conditions. We've seen that in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with the IED threats.</s>HOWELL: Robots are expensive, with some costing more than 100,000, but local police departments say the technology is well worth the cost.</s>UNIDENTIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER: Before, a bomb technician had to climb into a suit, go down and take care of business, where now we can use the robotic system. Much better.</s>SCIUTTO: Coming up, we pay tribute to the victims of the Dallas shootings.