Not all FIFA World Cup security personnel are humans: Here's what that means
If FIFA's experiment is successful, it could lead others to follow suit
As the World Cup has commenced, a non-human entity has joined the security of a mega-tournament.
FIFA and Hyundai have joined hands to deploy a fleet of futuristic robots to manage the flow of the competition.
According to multiple reports, Boston Dynamics, a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Group, has set up four 'Spot' robot dogs.
Their duty is to patrol the sites where World Cup matches are being held.
In the United States, this includes stadiums in New York and New Jersey, as well as the International Broadcast Center in Dallas.
The tech-savvy dogs can navigate crowded venues, monitor restricted areas, and conduct inspections.
The robo-canines will also assist security teams in navigating the thousands of people at the matches' locations.
Over 1,500 vehicles and robots are set to be used at the World Cup, making it Hyundai's biggest-ever deployment of robotics and mobility at an international sporting event.
Amid the deployment, a social media claim went viral, alleging that FIFA and Boston Dynamics have programmed the robot dogs to have facial recognition.
However, both of them pushed back against the rumor, stressing the high-tech canines do not have such capabilities.
Meanwhile, experts say that if the experiment is successful, robotic security may be deployed at other key public events in the future.
