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Robots with weapons? Bill would make that illegal in Massachusetts

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Robots with weapons? Bill would make that illegal in Massachusetts


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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.

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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.

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“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.

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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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Friday’s high school scoreboard in Massachusetts

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Friday’s high school scoreboard in Massachusetts


BOYS BASKETBALL

Archbishop Williams 71, Bishop Stang 57

Arlington 57, Woburn 51

Attleboro 66, Franklin 42

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Beverly 80, Newton South 36

Bishop Feehan 89, Cardinal Spellman 51

BC High 64, St. John’s Prep 60

Bridgewater-Raynham 68, Dartmouth 54

Burke 107, Brighton 46

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Burlington 71, Wilmington 40

Cambridge 61, Westford Academy 57 (2 ot)

Cathedral 79, Bishop Fenwick 68

Catholic Memorial 54, Malden Catholic 47

Concord-Carlisle 76, Wayland 67

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EMK 67, Snowden 60

Georgetown 62, Manchester-Essex 56

Holbrook 89, South Shore Charter 84

Holland 107, Brighton 46

Holliston 68, Ashland 58

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Hudson 74, Littleton 54

Ipswich 62, Hamilton-Wenham 55

Lincoln-Sudbury 52, Waltham 43

Marblehead 78, Peabody 45

Martha’s Vineyard 57, Dennis-Yarmouth 47

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Marshfield 68, Whitman-Hanson 56

Masconomet 87, Danvers 43

Medfield 74, Bellingham 46

Medway 61, Millis 51

Milton 77, Weymouth 57

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Mystic Valley 78, Innovation 57

Nantucket 78, Nauset 65

North Reading 75, Lynnfield 61

Norwell 69, East Bridgewater 50

Oliver Ames 65, Canton 58

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Quincy 65, North Quincy 57

St. John’s (S) 56, Xaverian 55 (ot)

St. Mary’s (L) 85, Arlington Catholic 68

Seekonk 71, Apponequet 62

Shawsheen 60, Whittier 55

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Somerville 58, Lynn English 52

Southeastern 74, Greater Lowell 54

Stoneham 62, Melrose 60 (ot)

Swampscott 60, Saugus 53

Walpole 49, Natick 46

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Wellesley 48, Framingham 46

West Bridgewater 74, Dighton-Rehoboth 56

Westwood 60, Hopkinton 57

Winchester 86, Reading 56

GIRLS BASKETBALL

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Barnstable 38, Falmouth 35

Bedford 62, Acton-Boxboro 55

Bishop Feehan 46, Cardinal Spellman 17

Bishop Fenwick 55, Cathedral 48

Blue Hills 30, Bristol-Plymouth 21

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Boston Latin 48, Weston 31

Braintree 50, Needham 44

Burlington 45, Wilmington 25

Concord-Carlisle 48, Wayland 37

Danvers 56, Masconomet 19

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Dartmouth 47, Bridgewater-Raynham 44

Dighton-Rehoboth 67, West Bridgewater 46

Durfee 59, Diman 23

Duxbury 53, Hingham 47

Foxboro 68, Stoughton 36

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Franklin 73, Attleboro 57

Hamilton-Wenham 46, Ipswich 28

Hopkinton 60, Westwood 47

Lowell 55, Beverly 37

Lynn Tech 49, Rockport 28

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Malden Catholic 57, Fontbonne 49

Manchester Essex 64, Georgetown 53

Mashpee 46, Falmouth Academy 38

Medford 51, Mystic Valley 25

Medway 53, Millis 35

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Melrose 46, Stoneham 35

Milton 57, Weymouth 40

New Bedford 54, Brockton 41

New Mission 50, O’Bryant 45

North Quincy 62, Quincy 59

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North Reading 60, Lynnfield 46

Norton 43, Dover-Sherborn 33

Norwood 44, Dedham 40

Old Rochester 59, Case 23

Pembroke 53, Plymouth South 38

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Pentucket 42, Triton 16

Pingree 51, Lexington Christian 30

Rockland 55, Carver 38

St. John Paul II 45, Nauset 29

St. Mary’s (L) 65, Arlington Catholic 42

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Shawsheen 47, Lowell Catholic 42

Silver Lake 52, Plymouth North 45

Snowden 50, EMK 19

Taunton 59, Sharon 32

Tech Boston 58, Batson Academy/Excel 19

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Waltham 45, Lincoln-Sudbury 29

Wareham 41, Bishop Stang 30

Watertown 53, Wakefield 41

Wellesley 55, Framingham 50

Westford Academy 54, Cambridge 42

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Winchester 47, Reading 35

Woburn 50, Arlington 45

GYMNASTICS

Medfield/Ashland/Dover-Sherborn 142.7, Hopkinton/Medway 141.6, Norton 138.05, Norwood 117.15

Melrose 136.35, Wilmington 136.1

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Winchester 138.7, Melrose 136.35

BOYS HOCKEY

Canton 8, Mansfield 0

Dedham 2, Holliston/Ashland 0

Tabor 5, Nobles 3

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Worcester Academy 5, Austin Prep 4

 

GIRLS HOCKEY

Bishop Feehan 2, Andover 1

MOA 4, Longmeadow 2

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Nobles 4, Cushing Academy 0

Pingree 8, Winsor 0



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11 children taken to hospital from Massachusetts day care with skin irritation, soap dispensers investigated

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11 children taken to hospital from Massachusetts day care with skin irritation, soap dispensers investigated


A Wellesley, Massachusetts day care was shut down after a dozen children came in contact with an irritant that left the skin on their hands red. 

Reaction similar to sunburn

The Wellesley Fire Department said the reaction was similar to a sunburn. HAZMAT teams are investigating the liquid in the soap dispensers to see if that is the culprit.

“We haven’t exactly pinpointed what the irritant is, but we think it may have something to do with the soap dispenser possibly. It’s not airborne or anything like that,” said Wellesley Fire Chief Steve Mortarelli.

Wellesley police believe it may be some type of dishwasher detergent that got mixed in. They say the reactions range in intensity from child to child, which leads them to believe there could be varying concentrations of the irritant in the dispensers. 

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Fire crews originally came to the Bright Horizons day care on William Street to treat just one child.

“On response we were evaluating, when several other children came up with a very similar issue,” said Chief Mortarelli. “Eleven of the children have been transported to area hospitals, and all minor superficial rashes.”

Day care shut down for investigation

The whole building is currently shut down for an investigation, but typically there are roughly 40 kids at the day care. Parents were seen getting into ambulances as their children were taken to the hospital out of an abundance of caution.

“Anytime there is children involved we are always going to have a response like this,” said Chief Mortarelli.

The children impacted range from one to five-years-old. There was a mix of reactions to seeing the first responders.

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“You know how kids are. Some think the fire trucks are cool, some were uncomfortable and scared, and some were playing it cool,” said Chief Mortarelli.

WBZ-TV reached out to Bright Horizons for comment, but so far, we have yet to get a response.



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Half foot of snow possible for parts of Mass. this weekend with complex storm

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Half foot of snow possible for parts of Mass. this weekend with complex storm


In the long-standing tradition of cold (or snowy) weekends this winter, this one won’t disappoint. Clouds are advancing today ahead of a complex storm system arriving late tonight.

When will it start snowing?

Light snow or flurries may break out as early as this evening, but for the most part today is quiet and cloudy. After midnight, ocean effect snow should start to pop up along the coast.

Meantime, an arctic cold front will be moving in from the west toward daybreak. These two will intertwine and create snow bands or streaks through the day tomorrow – some of which may be moderate to heavy at times.

Where these precisely set up is anyone’s guess, as our guidance plots them anywhere from the coast to Metrowest to Greater Worcester. It’s the difference between seeing 2-4 inches of snow versus 4-6 inches – not a lot of difference, but still one that’s tough to nail down.

Extreme cold warnings as Arctic air moves in

That aside, the wind will increase late into the evening as the arctic air moves in. Gusts through Saturday night into Sunday morning should top 40 mph at times – especially on Cape Cod.

Some drifting snow is possible, along with numbing wind chills into Sunday. Some may be dangerously cold – reaching -20 to -25 in Greater Worcester and parts of Western Massachusetts. It’s not much warmer elsewhere, with wind chills 10-15 below at times.

Winds will back off Monday as temperatures return to the low/mid 30s by Tuesday and Wednesday.

Weather alerts

There are extreme cold watches and warnings in place for parts of Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Vermont.

The extreme cold warnings are in effect from 6 p.m. Saturday to 1 p.m. Sunday with dangerously cold wind chills as low as 25 to 30 below expected for portions of northern Connecticut and central and western Massachusetts.

Click here for a list of active weather alerts

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Another storm possible next week

We’re also watching another storm by the middle of week. This one appears to stay on the cold side, so we’re expecting mostly snow. More on this in the coming days.

Have a great weekend!



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