{"id":47472,"topic":"ai","source":"FedScoop","title":"Secret Service wants more AI robots for target practice - FedScoop","url":"https://fedscoop.com/secret-service-ai-robot-target-practice/","url_hash":"46bc68b112c8b6540fda08116ea9d28c337e6622","author":"","summary":"Secret Service wants more AI robots for target practice FedScoop","content":"The Secret Service is planning to spend up to $20 million on AI robots for target practice as part of a contract it expects to award in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, per recently published acquisition planning documents.\nThe Department of Homeland Security unit wants to add one autonomous robotic system that will include eight all-terrain infantry targets, one vehicle target and four other infantry targets. The Secret Service will require its robotic training squad to wear ballistic protection for various ammunition calibers.\nThe agency has been building up its autonomous training tools with Marathon Targets, starting back in 2023. Over the past few years, the Secret Service has spent more than $4 million on the vendor’s autonomous robotic targeting system, according to USAspending records. The latest follow-on, no-competition contract is an expansion of these efforts.\nThe Secret Service was the first law enforcement agency in the country to use autonomous, three-dimensional targets, the agency said in a blog post highlighting the initiative last year. Previously, the training tools were only available to the military.\nWithin the Secret Service, several units are relying on robots for target practice. The Special Operations Division, which provides counter snipers and counter-assault teams at events, are using them, as well as individuals in Protective Detail Training and Uniformed Division In-Service Training.\nThe robots are designed to operate closer to that of a human than a paper, two-dimensional counterpart. The training tools can reach up to 11 mph, speak multiple languages and can produce sound effects when hit. The robots only stop once they’ve been hit numerous times or in “specific or vital areas,” the agency said.\nIn addition to the Secret Service, Marathon Targets also contracts with the Marine Corps, Army, Navy and Air Force. The robots “flinch,” “groan” and “shriek,” per promotional material from the vendor.\nRobotic targets can bring a wealth of data to law enforcement and defense agencies by tracking strikes, enabling instructors to provide a more comprehensive analysis of how a trainee is doing.\nThe plan to grow its robotic training squad comes as the Secret Service sharpens its focus on emerging technologies to improve day-to-day operations.","image_url":"https://fedscoop.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/07/Screenshot-2026-07-27-at-3.00.44-PM.png","lang":"en","published_at":"2026-07-27T20:39:30+00:00","fetched_at":"2026-07-27T21:15:05+00:00","status":"read","starred":0,"extract_state":"ok","summary_auto":"The Secret Service is planning to spend up to $20 million on AI robots for target practice as part of a contract it expects to award in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, per recently published acquisition planning documents. The Department of Homeland Security unit wants to add one autonomous robotic system that will include eight all-terrain infantry targets, one vehicle target and four other infantry targets.","cluster_id":null,"extract_retries":1,"extract_error":null,"contract_version":"news_item.v1","format_contract_version":"news_item_formats.v1","dedup_url":"https://fedscoop.com/secret-service-ai-robot-target-practice/","quality_profile":{"profile_version":"extraction_quality.v2","bucket":"high","confidence":0.9,"failure_kind":"none","retryable":false,"retry_after_attempts":0,"reason":"High confidence: full text extraction produced 2303 characters.","operator_guidance":{"severity":"ok","recommended_action":"trust_full_text","next_step":"Use the extracted full text as the primary article source.","operator_label":"Ready","can_retry":false,"can_use_summary":false,"diagnostics_required":false},"content_depth":{"contract_version":"content_depth.v1","category":"full_text","label":"Full text","has_full_text":true,"has_summary":true,"content_length":2303,"summary_length":415,"usable_text_length":2303,"source_field":"content"},"legacy_collapsed":false,"signals":{"extract_state":"ok","extract_error":null,"extract_retries":1,"content_length":2303,"summary_length":415}},"news_item":{"id":47472,"canonical_url":"https://fedscoop.com/secret-service-ai-robot-target-practice/","source_url":"https://fedscoop.com/secret-service-ai-robot-target-practice/","title":"Secret Service wants more AI robots for target practice - FedScoop","source_name":"FedScoop","author":null,"published_at":"2026-07-27T20:39:30+00:00","locale":"en","topic":"ai","tags":[],"rss_summary":"Secret Service wants more AI robots for target practice FedScoop","full_text":"The Secret Service is planning to spend up to $20 million on AI robots for target practice as part of a contract it expects to award in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, per recently published acquisition planning documents.\nThe Department of Homeland Security unit wants to add one autonomous robotic system that will include eight all-terrain infantry targets, one vehicle target and four other infantry targets. The Secret Service will require its robotic training squad to wear ballistic protection for various ammunition calibers.\nThe agency has been building up its autonomous training tools with Marathon Targets, starting back in 2023. Over the past few years, the Secret Service has spent more than $4 million on the vendor’s autonomous robotic targeting system, according to USAspending records. The latest follow-on, no-competition contract is an expansion of these efforts.\nThe Secret Service was the first law enforcement agency in the country to use autonomous, three-dimensional targets, the agency said in a blog post highlighting the initiative last year. Previously, the training tools were only available to the military.\nWithin the Secret Service, several units are relying on robots for target practice. The Special Operations Division, which provides counter snipers and counter-assault teams at events, are using them, as well as individuals in Protective Detail Training and Uniformed Division In-Service Training.\nThe robots are designed to operate closer to that of a human than a paper, two-dimensional counterpart. The training tools can reach up to 11 mph, speak multiple languages and can produce sound effects when hit. The robots only stop once they’ve been hit numerous times or in “specific or vital areas,” the agency said.\nIn addition to the Secret Service, Marathon Targets also contracts with the Marine Corps, Army, Navy and Air Force. The robots “flinch,” “groan” and “shriek,” per promotional material from the vendor.\nRobotic targets can bring a wealth of data to law enforcement and defense agencies by tracking strikes, enabling instructors to provide a more comprehensive analysis of how a trainee is doing.\nThe plan to grow its robotic training squad comes as the Secret Service sharpens its focus on emerging technologies to improve day-to-day operations.","excerpt":"The Secret Service is planning to spend up to $20 million on AI robots for target practice as part of a contract it expects to award in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, per recently published acquisition planning documents. The Department of Homeland Security unit wants to add one autonomous robotic system that will include eight all-terrain infantry targets, one vehicle target and four other infantry targets.","extraction":{"state":"ok","confidence":0.9,"error":null,"explanation":"High confidence: full text extraction produced 2303 characters.","diagnostics_url":"/api/diagnose?url=https%3A//fedscoop.com/secret-service-ai-robot-target-practice/","quality_profile":{"profile_version":"extraction_quality.v2","bucket":"high","confidence":0.9,"failure_kind":"none","retryable":false,"retry_after_attempts":0,"reason":"High confidence: full text extraction produced 2303 characters.","operator_guidance":{"severity":"ok","recommended_action":"trust_full_text","next_step":"Use the extracted full text as the primary article source.","operator_label":"Ready","can_retry":false,"can_use_summary":false,"diagnostics_required":false},"content_depth":{"contract_version":"content_depth.v1","category":"full_text","label":"Full text","has_full_text":true,"has_summary":true,"content_length":2303,"summary_length":415,"usable_text_length":2303,"source_field":"content"},"legacy_collapsed":false,"signals":{"extract_state":"ok","extract_error":null,"extract_retries":1,"content_length":2303,"summary_length":415}}},"display_formats":["compact","card","full","digest_section","json"]},"daily_stack_record":{"title":"Secret Service wants more AI robots for target practice - FedScoop","url":"https://fedscoop.com/secret-service-ai-robot-target-practice/","summary":"The Secret Service is planning to spend up to $20 million on AI robots for target practice as part of a contract it expects to award in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, per recently published acquisition planning documents. The Department of Homeland Security unit wants to add one autonomous robotic system that will include eight all-terrain infantry targets, one vehicle target and four other infantry targets.","source":"FedScoop","date":"2026-07-27T20:39:30+00:00","content":"The Secret Service is planning to spend up to $20 million on AI robots for target practice as part of a contract it expects to award in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, per recently published acquisition planning documents.\nThe Department of Homeland Security unit wants to add one autonomous robotic system that will include eight all-terrain infantry targets, one vehicle target and four other infantry targets. The Secret Service will require its robotic training squad to wear ballistic protection for various ammunition calibers.\nThe agency has been building up its autonomous training tools with Marathon Targets, starting back in 2023. Over the past few years, the Secret Service has spent more than $4 million on the vendor’s autonomous robotic targeting system, according to USAspending records. The latest follow-on, no-competition contract is an expansion of these efforts.\nThe Secret Service was the first law enforcement agency in the country to use autonomous, three-dimensional targets, the agency said in a blog post highlighting the initiative last year. Previously, the training tools were only available to the military.\nWithin the Secret Service, several units are relying on robots for target practice. The Special Operations Division, which provides counter snipers and counter-assault teams at events, are using them, as well as individuals in Protective Detail Training and Uniformed Division In-Service Training.\nThe robots are designed to operate closer to that of a human than a paper, two-dimensional counterpart. The training tools can reach up to 11 mph, speak multiple languages and can produce sound effects when hit. The robots only stop once they’ve been hit numerous times or in “specific or vital areas,” the agency said.\nIn addition to the Secret Service, Marathon Targets also contracts with the Marine Corps, Army, Navy and Air Force. The robots “flinch,” “groan” and “shriek,” per promotional material from the vendor.\nRobotic targets can bring a wealth of data to law enforcement and defense agencies by tracking strikes, enabling instructors to provide a more comprehensive analysis of how a trainee is doing.\nThe plan to grow its robotic training squad comes as the Secret Service sharpens its focus on emerging technologies to improve day-to-day operations.","confidence":0.9,"diagnostics_url":"/api/diagnose?url=https%3A//fedscoop.com/secret-service-ai-robot-target-practice/","quality_bucket":"high","failure_kind":"none","retryable":false,"quality_reason":"High confidence: full text extraction produced 2303 characters.","quality_profile":{"profile_version":"extraction_quality.v2","bucket":"high","confidence":0.9,"failure_kind":"none","retryable":false,"retry_after_attempts":0,"reason":"High confidence: full text extraction produced 2303 characters.","operator_guidance":{"severity":"ok","recommended_action":"trust_full_text","next_step":"Use the extracted full text as the primary article source.","operator_label":"Ready","can_retry":false,"can_use_summary":false,"diagnostics_required":false},"content_depth":{"contract_version":"content_depth.v1","category":"full_text","label":"Full text","has_full_text":true,"has_summary":true,"content_length":2303,"summary_length":415,"usable_text_length":2303,"source_field":"content"},"legacy_collapsed":false,"signals":{"extract_state":"ok","extract_error":null,"extract_retries":1,"content_length":2303,"summary_length":415}},"tags":[]},"fallback_formats":["markdown","json","html"],"actions":{"read":"/item/47472","export_markdown":"/api/items/47472/export?format=markdown","export_json":"/api/items/47472/export?format=json","diagnose":"/api/diagnose?url=https%3A//fedscoop.com/secret-service-ai-robot-target-practice/"},"formats":{"full":{"id":47472,"title":"Secret Service wants more AI robots for target practice - FedScoop","url":"https://fedscoop.com/secret-service-ai-robot-target-practice/","source":"FedScoop","author":null,"published_at":"2026-07-27T20:39:30+00:00","locale":"en","topic":"ai","tags":[],"excerpt":"The Secret Service is planning to spend up to $20 million on AI robots for target practice as part of a contract it expects to award in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, per recently published acquisition planning documents. The Department of Homeland Security unit wants to add one autonomous robotic system that will include eight all-terrain infantry targets, one vehicle target and four other infantry targets.","full_text":"The Secret Service is planning to spend up to $20 million on AI robots for target practice as part of a contract it expects to award in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, per recently published acquisition planning documents.\nThe Department of Homeland Security unit wants to add one autonomous robotic system that will include eight all-terrain infantry targets, one vehicle target and four other infantry targets. The Secret Service will require its robotic training squad to wear ballistic protection for various ammunition calibers.\nThe agency has been building up its autonomous training tools with Marathon Targets, starting back in 2023. Over the past few years, the Secret Service has spent more than $4 million on the vendor’s autonomous robotic targeting system, according to USAspending records. The latest follow-on, no-competition contract is an expansion of these efforts.\nThe Secret Service was the first law enforcement agency in the country to use autonomous, three-dimensional targets, the agency said in a blog post highlighting the initiative last year. Previously, the training tools were only available to the military.\nWithin the Secret Service, several units are relying on robots for target practice. The Special Operations Division, which provides counter snipers and counter-assault teams at events, are using them, as well as individuals in Protective Detail Training and Uniformed Division In-Service Training.\nThe robots are designed to operate closer to that of a human than a paper, two-dimensional counterpart. The training tools can reach up to 11 mph, speak multiple languages and can produce sound effects when hit. The robots only stop once they’ve been hit numerous times or in “specific or vital areas,” the agency said.\nIn addition to the Secret Service, Marathon Targets also contracts with the Marine Corps, Army, Navy and Air Force. The robots “flinch,” “groan” and “shriek,” per promotional material from the vendor.\nRobotic targets can bring a wealth of data to law enforcement and defense agencies by tracking strikes, enabling instructors to provide a more comprehensive analysis of how a trainee is doing.\nThe plan to grow its robotic training squad comes as the Secret Service sharpens its focus on emerging technologies to improve day-to-day operations.","reading_time_min":2,"extraction":{"state":"ok","confidence":0.9,"error":null,"explanation":"High confidence: full text extraction produced 2303 characters.","diagnostics_url":"/api/diagnose?url=https%3A//fedscoop.com/secret-service-ai-robot-target-practice/","quality_profile":{"profile_version":"extraction_quality.v2","bucket":"high","confidence":0.9,"failure_kind":"none","retryable":false,"retry_after_attempts":0,"reason":"High confidence: full text extraction produced 2303 characters.","operator_guidance":{"severity":"ok","recommended_action":"trust_full_text","next_step":"Use the extracted full text as the primary article source.","operator_label":"Ready","can_retry":false,"can_use_summary":false,"diagnostics_required":false},"content_depth":{"contract_version":"content_depth.v1","category":"full_text","label":"Full text","has_full_text":true,"has_summary":true,"content_length":2303,"summary_length":415,"usable_text_length":2303,"source_field":"content"},"legacy_collapsed":false,"signals":{"extract_state":"ok","extract_error":null,"extract_retries":1,"content_length":2303,"summary_length":415}}},"quality_profile":{"profile_version":"extraction_quality.v2","bucket":"high","confidence":0.9,"failure_kind":"none","retryable":false,"retry_after_attempts":0,"reason":"High confidence: full text extraction produced 2303 characters.","operator_guidance":{"severity":"ok","recommended_action":"trust_full_text","next_step":"Use the extracted full text as the primary article source.","operator_label":"Ready","can_retry":false,"can_use_summary":false,"diagnostics_required":false},"content_depth":{"contract_version":"content_depth.v1","category":"full_text","label":"Full text","has_full_text":true,"has_summary":true,"content_length":2303,"summary_length":415,"usable_text_length":2303,"source_field":"content"},"legacy_collapsed":false,"signals":{"extract_state":"ok","extract_error":null,"extract_retries":1,"content_length":2303,"summary_length":415}},"actions":{"read":"/item/47472","export_markdown":"/api/items/47472/export?format=markdown","export_json":"/api/items/47472/export?format=json","diagnose":"/api/diagnose?url=https%3A//fedscoop.com/secret-service-ai-robot-target-practice/"}},"digest":{"id":47472,"title":"Secret Service wants more AI robots for target practice - FedScoop","url":"https://fedscoop.com/secret-service-ai-robot-target-practice/","source":"FedScoop","topic":"ai","published_at":"2026-07-27T20:39:30+00:00","excerpt":"The Secret Service is planning to spend up to $20 million on AI robots for target practice as part of a contract it expects to award in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, per recently published acquisition planning documents. The Department of Homeland Security unit wants to add…","quality_bucket":"high","quality_reason":"High confidence: full text extraction produced 2303 characters.","reading_time_min":2,"cluster_id":null},"card":{"display_title":"Secret Service wants more AI robots for target practice - FedScoop","subtitle":"FedScoop · 2026-07-27","summary":"The Secret Service is planning to spend up to $20 million on AI robots for target practice as part of a contract it expects to award in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, per recently published acquisition planning…","badges":["quality:high"],"links":{"read":"/item/47472","original":"https://fedscoop.com/secret-service-ai-robot-target-practice/","diagnose":"/api/diagnose?url=https%3A//fedscoop.com/secret-service-ai-robot-target-practice/"},"quality_warning":null},"export":{"title":"Secret Service wants more AI robots for target practice - FedScoop","url":"https://fedscoop.com/secret-service-ai-robot-target-practice/","summary":"The Secret Service is planning to spend up to $20 million on AI robots for target practice as part of a contract it expects to award in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, per recently published acquisition planning documents. The Department of Homeland Security unit wants to add one autonomous robotic system that will include eight all-terrain infantry targets, one vehicle target and four other infantry targets.","source":"FedScoop","date":"2026-07-27T20:39:30+00:00","content":"The Secret Service is planning to spend up to $20 million on AI robots for target practice as part of a contract it expects to award in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, per recently published acquisition planning documents.\nThe Department of Homeland Security unit wants to add one autonomous robotic system that will include eight all-terrain infantry targets, one vehicle target and four other infantry targets. The Secret Service will require its robotic training squad to wear ballistic protection for various ammunition calibers.\nThe agency has been building up its autonomous training tools with Marathon Targets, starting back in 2023. Over the past few years, the Secret Service has spent more than $4 million on the vendor’s autonomous robotic targeting system, according to USAspending records. The latest follow-on, no-competition contract is an expansion of these efforts.\nThe Secret Service was the first law enforcement agency in the country to use autonomous, three-dimensional targets, the agency said in a blog post highlighting the initiative last year. Previously, the training tools were only available to the military.\nWithin the Secret Service, several units are relying on robots for target practice. The Special Operations Division, which provides counter snipers and counter-assault teams at events, are using them, as well as individuals in Protective Detail Training and Uniformed Division In-Service Training.\nThe robots are designed to operate closer to that of a human than a paper, two-dimensional counterpart. The training tools can reach up to 11 mph, speak multiple languages and can produce sound effects when hit. The robots only stop once they’ve been hit numerous times or in “specific or vital areas,” the agency said.\nIn addition to the Secret Service, Marathon Targets also contracts with the Marine Corps, Army, Navy and Air Force. The robots “flinch,” “groan” and “shriek,” per promotional material from the vendor.\nRobotic targets can bring a wealth of data to law enforcement and defense agencies by tracking strikes, enabling instructors to provide a more comprehensive analysis of how a trainee is doing.\nThe plan to grow its robotic training squad comes as the Secret Service sharpens its focus on emerging technologies to improve day-to-day operations.","confidence":0.9,"diagnostics_url":"/api/diagnose?url=https%3A//fedscoop.com/secret-service-ai-robot-target-practice/","quality_bucket":"high","failure_kind":"none","retryable":false,"quality_reason":"High confidence: full text extraction produced 2303 characters.","quality_profile":{"profile_version":"extraction_quality.v2","bucket":"high","confidence":0.9,"failure_kind":"none","retryable":false,"retry_after_attempts":0,"reason":"High confidence: full text extraction produced 2303 characters.","operator_guidance":{"severity":"ok","recommended_action":"trust_full_text","next_step":"Use the extracted full text as the primary article source.","operator_label":"Ready","can_retry":false,"can_use_summary":false,"diagnostics_required":false},"content_depth":{"contract_version":"content_depth.v1","category":"full_text","label":"Full text","has_full_text":true,"has_summary":true,"content_length":2303,"summary_length":415,"usable_text_length":2303,"source_field":"content"},"legacy_collapsed":false,"signals":{"extract_state":"ok","extract_error":null,"extract_retries":1,"content_length":2303,"summary_length":415}},"tags":[],"format_contract_version":"news_item_formats.v1"}}}