Affordable Chinese robot dogs hit Canadian market, but software limits and security gaps persist
Chinese quadruped robots are now sold in Canada for around $6,000, yet they require human control and have documented security vulnerabilities.
Unitree's Go2 robot dog is now available in Canada at roughly $6,000, with an Alberta dealer promoting it for emergency services. Academics from Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia explain that while hardware costs have fallen dramatically, the software remains narrowly specialized, limiting practical use to remote-controlled scenarios such as search and rescue. Security analyses reveal that the robots can be hijacked through Bluetooth password fields and a hard-coded encryption key, granting full control to nearby attackers; existing patches address these issues, but owners must update manually.
A March report highlighted hidden network connections in earlier models, sending data to servers in China. The U.S. FCC has barred new foreign-made robots without Department of War approval, a measure not mirrored by Canadian regulators. Researchers stress that similar connectivity risks affect many internet-enabled devices.
Why it matters
Consumers and public-safety agencies need to understand the limits and security risks of cheap robot dogs now sold in Canada.
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