A 12-week trial of a robot dog developed by NextGen Ri has been launched by Nottinghamshire Police and was featured on BBC Breakfast News on 22 August 2025.

The trial will see the robot put through its paces in a series of training scenarios with the force’s firearms team, including armed sieges, hostile incidents and building searches.

Equipped with AI cameras that can detect weapons, LIDAR mapping systems and thermal imaging, the technology is designed to give officers crucial intelligence before entering dangerous environments.

The BBC feature showed how the robot can scan buildings, map layouts and relay live video footage to officers on the ground. This allows teams to assess threats and plan their response without putting lives at immediate risk.

Nathan Wallace, Robotics Engineer at NextGen Ri, said:

“We are excited to be working with Nottinghamshire Police on this trial. Seeing the robot used in real operational scenarios is a huge milestone. It is not just about what the technology can do today, but how it can be developed further to meet the real needs of officers in the field. Our goal is always to help keep people safe.”

NextGen Ri specialises in adapting robotic platforms for practical use cases. This trial is exploring how ground-based robots could complement existing tools such as drones by providing insight in confined or hazardous spaces.

Superintendent Louise Clarke of Nottinghamshire Police said:

“While still in its infancy, it is not hard to see how this technology can and will be used in the future to protect and serve the public.”

Clarke adds: “By doing so we can gather vital intelligence about a volatile situation without putting lives at risk.”

We are proud to see our work showcased on BBC Breakfast and BBC News, and to be working alongside Nottinghamshire Police on this important field trial.

The 12-week programme will provide valuable feedback to help shape how robotics could be used more widely in UK policing.