Feral Robot Dogs
Natalie Jerimejenko has information here and here detailing her feral robots project:
OUT THERE, in happy family homes, in the offices of corporate executives, in toy stores through out the globe, is an army of robotic dogs. These semi-autonomous robotic creatures, though currently programmed to perform inane or entertaining tasks: begging for plastic bones; barking to the tune of national anthems; walking in circles; are actually fully motile and AWAITING FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS.
If the dogs were, for example, modified with an off-the-shelf gas sensor, they could be released on building sites to prowl, take readings, and send back data.
I just hope they're smart enough not to get between a real dog and a piece of meat...
...via BoingBoing