The Carabinieri Corps has acquired its first robot dog, a first for Italy and its Police Forces, with the goal of boosting operational performance and ensuring the safety of operating personnel. It was named "Saetta" after the insignia on the sides of emergency vehicles, and it was outfitted in the Carabinieri's customary blue and red livery. It will be assigned to the Bomb Squad in Rome at first. It will be able to go on impervious terrain that standard wheeled or tracked vehicles cannot travel on, thanks to remote control from a tablet (up to 150 meters). It will be possible to carry out risky reconnaissance activities with the help of the robot dog, thus carrying out anti-sabotage tasks instead of specialized soldiers, taking advantage of its strong mobility skills such as going up and down flights of stairs and autonomously opening doors and removing obstacles. Saetta will be able to map locations using cutting-edge laser and thermal detection technologies, highlighting the presence of dangers and recognizing the weakest traces of explosives, chemical and radiological agents with the use of dedicated instruments. The robot dog will use its robotic arm to remove explosives, such as massive, unexploded firecrackers that, especially on New Year's Eve, endanger the safety of city dwellers. Finally, it will be able to supply soldiers who are unable to move with equipment. The invention will allow for higher overall safety standards, especially in light of the Jubilee anniversary in 2025, which will bring millions of tourists to Rome. Saetta is another step in the Carabinieri Corps' ongoing research and development activities in the field of new technologies, with the primary goal of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the service provided to residents. The Carabinieri can now rely on Saetta, who has been "enlisted" not to replace human resources or dog units, but to reduce danger, facilitate the administration of the most adverse operational situations, and so represent an additional value in institutional activities.
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