Massachusetts

Robots with weapons? Bill would make that illegal in Massachusetts

Published

7 months ago

April 25, 2024

Robots with weapons? Bill would make that illegal in Massachusetts

BOSTON — It was a special “dog” that captured the attention of legislators, state workers and even tourists at the Massachusetts State House on Thursday; it responded to commands: Stay! Go! and even Down! But the commands were sent electronically through a joy stick and the dog, dubbed Spot, was robotic.

A flame-throwing robotic dog, like the Thermonator, for sale to the general public for $9,500, it is not.

The robot dog, created by Boston Dynamics, was at the State House to encourage legislators to support a bill that would prohibit the weaponization of robots. Sponsored by Sen. Michael Moore, D-Millbury and Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, D-Northampton, the bill advocates for the responsible, ethical and safe use of advanced robotic technology.

Among other things, the bill would make it illegal for anyone, including a law enforcement agent, to manufacture, modify, sell, transfer or operate a robotic device or drone that is equipped with a weapon; or to use such a device to physically restrain a person.

“We have an ethics policy,” said David Robert, director of human/robot interaction for Boston Dynamics, the maker of Spot. “We are creating robots to be friendly and useful, not harm or hurt people or animals.”

The Boston Dynamics device, has been sold in 40 different countries; its primary use is to replace humans in tedious or dangerous tasks, such as disposing of explosive or suspected explosive devices.

“We can send in the robot to places that are too dangerous for humans,” Robert said. A Canadian power plant purchased a Spot to throw a switch that would arc every time it was engaged. Workers were too uncomfortable to accomplish the task, so the company called in Spot. “Spot can help keep humans out of harm’s way.”

The New York City Fire Department has one, dubbed Bergh, after the founder of the ASPCA, and it is painted to look like a Dalmatian.

The device is teachable, Robert said, explaining that Spot can be taught, or programed, to perform tasks without human supervision. It can record a route, a sequence of events and perform those without supervision as well.

“The robot is doing the work automatically but with the ability to have a human override its program,” Robert said.

Transparency is part of the company’s philosophy: the device is not encased in a furry substance; does not have a head or a tail, and doesn’t even, really, look like a dog. That’s on purpose, Robert said, explaining that the company’s aim is to create public trust with robotic devices in anticipation of them being in people’s homes.

Hannah Rossi, a field application specialist, was at the controls Tuesday, demonstrating Spot’s moves.

The Spot at the State House was fitted with a retractable lever that functions similar to a hand. Other devices that can be attached including mapping tools, cameras and at the shop employees have created a Margarita mixer attachment.

“That’s the fun part,” Robert said.

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Massachusetts

This Massachusetts shop is offering free coffee for patrons who come in dancing | CNN Business

Published

5 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Press Room

This Massachusetts shop is offering free coffee for patrons who come in dancing | CNN Business

CNN
—

A coffee shop in Middleborough, Massachusetts, went viral overnight for offering free coffee to customers who entered the shop while dancing.

A video of customers participating in the promotion was posted on Coffee Milano Café’s TikTok account on Monday and has since been viewed over 5 million times as of Wednesday afternoon.

The viral post highlights how businesses are finding new customers by amping up their online presence, moving away from traditional marketing methods that are not delivering the same reach anymore.

Owner Josh Rashid told CNN that business picked up after the video was posted, attracting curious new customers while delighting cafe regulars.

“We’re a small little town here in Middleborough, and it’s fun. A couple of people were in the store when it happened, and they came in the next day and said, ‘Oh my gosh, I saw your video on my For You page,’” he said.

Inspired by a similar promotion by a pizza shop, Rashid posted a sign telling customers they would receive a free coffee if they danced for five seconds. The sign also informed them that they would be filmed and featured on the cafe’s social media.

Rashid told CNN that the cafe’s TikTok account gained over 10,000 followers since the video was posted, up from roughly 4,000 followers.

“Small businesses really need to be on these platforms where potential customers are searching,” said Kristyn Shay, social media director at SCORE, a nonprofit offering resources for small business owners. “It’s really an exciting time for small businesses to go viral on platforms like TikTok and be where younger potential customers are hanging out.”

Rashid told CNN that the staff had only started creating short, playful videos using trending TikTok sounds four weeks ago when he decided to shake up their marketing strategy.

“We’re in a digital world and word of mouth is great, but at the same time, we’re glued to our phones,” he said. “It just shows us how powerful social media is, and as a business owner, we have to adapt and do what we can.”

Rashid said that the reaction to the cafe’s promotion was so positive that he plans to bring back the deal every month. But it comes with a catch.

He said he would not post an announcement or schedule an official date. Instead, he plans on leaving “Easter eggs” across the cafe’s social media for customers to find hints to future promotions.

“When you have a viral moment, it’s an indicator that you’re doing something right,” Shay said. “Maybe you tested a new strategy. Maybe that strategy was to be a little bit more silly and the audience responded to that.”

And to those who worry about the cafe losing out on profits, Rashid says it’s not a problem.

“You’ve got to have some joy in this world, and if a little five second dance brings you joy, then it’s worth the free coffee.”

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Massachusetts

Discolored water reported in 2 Massachusetts towns after long effort to get clean drinking water

Published

13 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Press Room

Discolored water reported in 2 Massachusetts towns after long effort to get clean drinking water

Residents in Holbrook and Randolph report muddy, discolored water

02:13

HOLBROOK – Residents in two Massachusetts communities are dealing with discolored water coming out of their pipes and they said it’s the latest issue in a years’ long process to get clean water.

Thick, muddy water

When John Davis woke up Tuesday morning in Holbrook, he found thick, muddy water flowing out of his tap. After a quick check of social media, it didn’t take long to figure out most of his neighbors were dealing with the same thing.

“It was, just, black mud water came out of the tap,” said Davis. “I had a couple of friends that did their laundry. Ruined their laundry, they’ve been bleaching in the sink.”

Davis has lived in Holbrook his entire life and said Tuesday’s dirty water debacle was just the latest in a years’ long effort to get clean drinking water. Each week for the last two years, Davis has been filling jugs up with clean spring water because the stuff coming out of his tap contains high levels of PFAS or “forever chemicals.” Davis said the town has advised residents not to cook with or drink their tap water.

New treatment plant

The town is working to fix the issue by developing a so-called Tri-Town Water Treatment Plant out of Braintree. The town of Holbrook said Tuesday’s muddy water is the result of Monday night work on the project.

In a statement, the Holbrook Public Works Department said:

“The Water Department is actively working to address the issue and appreciates your understanding during this time. Additionally, significant work was completed on Monday night on a major water transmission line that supplies the Holbrook’s Water Distribution System from the Randolph/Holbrook joint Water Treatment Plant. This work included the installation of two large junctions that will soon connect to new transmission lines from the Tri-Town Water Treatment Plant under construction in Braintree.”

The statement went on to say the new plant should be completed by January of 2026. They added if anyone’s water was still discolored Wednesday night, to flush their system by letting their bathtub or shower run.

The neighboring town of Randolph also reported discolored water as a result of the construction.

Brandon Truitt

Brandon Truitt is a general assignment reporter for WBZ-TV.

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Massachusetts

Where are fires burning in Massachusetts? See map of where fire are burning

Published

21 hours ago

November 20, 2024

Press Room

Where are fires burning in Massachusetts? See map of where fire are burning

The brush fires continue to burn in Massachusetts.

A major brush fire erupted at Blue Hills Reservation on Monday night, and crews continued to battle the blaze Tuesday.

In Braintree, a brush fire was reported in the woods near Skyline Drive on Monday.

“Fire will continue to smolder deep underground until we have a soaking rain,” states the Braintree Fire Department’s Instagram page.

On top of the major brush fires this week, the alerts for fires kept coming in consistently from Nov. 19-20. Using Dataminr, there were 10 notifications reported in Massachusetts by noon on Nov. 20 and 14 fires reported on Nov. 19.

See map of where fires are burning in MA

The National Weather Service is continuing to warn residents that the state is at high risk for fires, issuing a special advisory on Wednesday.

“The combination of prolonged dry weather and low relative humidities will contribute to elevated fire weather concerns Wednesday across Massachusetts. Obey fire bans, keep vehicles off dry grass and use extra caution if handling any potential ignition sources,” the agency said.

Brush fires/fire alerts today, Nov. 20

These alerts come from Dataminr.

Brush fire burns on 0 block of Mulberry St. in Groveland
Fire reported on 10 block of Overland St. Southbridge
Butternut Fire burns at 1,100 acres on East Mountain Rd. in Great Barrington
Fire reported on Great Neck Rd. South, Mashpee
Fire reported on 110 block of Townsend St. Worcester
Fire reported on Western Ave. Lynn
Fire reported on 200 block of Walnut Plain Rd. Rochester
Fire reported on 70 block of Wales St. Taunton
Brush fire prompts emergency response near Donald E Ross Elementary School on 20 block of Hayward St. in Braintree
Fire reported on Oakmont St. Webster

Brush fires/fires alerts on Nov. 19

Fire reported on 900 block of South St. Southbridge
Fire reported at intersection of Essex Street and Hampshire St. Lawrence
Fire reported on Methuen St. Lowell
Fire reported on 0 block of Shrewsbury St. Worcester
Fire reported on Azalea Rd. Winchester
Fire reported on Sycamore St. Westfield
Fire reported on 0 block of Wakefield Ave. Saugus
Fire reported on Rockland St. Abington
Fire reported on 300 block of Cherry St. Newton
Fire reported on 20 block of Virginia St. Dorchester
Fire reported on 200 block of Rockland St. Hanover
Three-alarm brush fire burns on 230 block of Topsfield Rd. in Wenham
Fire reported on 10 block of Colonial Ave. Lowell
Brush fire burns at Cedar Glen Golf Course on 60 block of Water St. in Saugus

Is this a bad season for brush fires in Massachusetts?

Yes.

The Carver Fire Department reported on Facebook that the average number of November brush fires in Massachusetts is 21.

“So far for November 2024 we are at 292 with over 700 acres burned” for the state, the department noted.

State fire officials report that there were 175 wildfires that continued to be an issue across Massachusetts earlier this month on Nov. 9.

Mass.gov stated that there were 203 brush fires in Massachusetts during the month of October, which is an increase of about 1,200% over the average. Typically, there are only about 15 brush fires in October.

How bad is the drought in Massachusetts?

As of this week, the U.S. Drought Monitor recently showed that dry conditions in Massachusetts keep getting worse.

That’s because the state really hasn’t seen any significant rain since September, with precipitation totals in October being low.

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs declared a Level 3 – Critical Drought for the central and northeast regions parts of Massachusetts late last week.

The U.S. Drought Monitor currently classifies just over 66% of the state as being in a severe drought covering most of the Boston area, North shore, Central Massachusetts and Western Massachusetts. Other parts of the state are considered to be in a moderate drought, while the Cape and Islands are currently classified as abnormally dry.

Is there any rain on the way? If so, will it help?

The National Weather Service stated that a “slow-moving frontal system” will bring overcast skies and rain Thursday into Friday, “which could mix with wet snow at locations above 1,500 feet elevation.”

Meteorologist Candice Hrencecin of the National Weather Service branch in Norton told USA Today Network on Tuesday, Nov. 19, that “about an inch of rain” can be expected this Thursday into Friday.

But after Thursday, the weather is supposed to dry up again, she added.

Regarding whether the forecasted rain would stop the drought, Hrencecin said, “Definitely not,” but she added it would help quench any ongoing brush fires.

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