Dozens of Boston Dynamics employees are calling on the company to stop the sale of its AI-powered robot dogs to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Known as "Spot," Boston Dynamics' robots are dog-like autonomous machines with four legs that can climb stairs and do backflips. They're equipped with cameras and sensors.

The company faced some backlash in late August, when it was first revealed that the Department of Homeland Security planned to purchase the robots . A $1.3 million contract with ICE was settled in September for the sale of four robot dogs and other Spot technology.

Employees wrote in a petition , obtained by WBUR and sent in early September to company leadership, that the sale hurts Boston Dynamics' image and "presents us as working directly with ICE" as the agency has "worked to sow fear" across the country.

A Boston Dynamics spokesperson confirmed the petition Friday, but said "nearly half" of its 300 signatures were entered as "Anonymous." The company employs more than 1,500…