Robocop To The Rescue
A robotic policeman that can help identify wanted criminals and collect evidence has joined the force in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and will patrol busy areas in the city. He is part of a government program aimed at replacing some human crime fighters with machines. If the Robocop experiment is successful, Dubai police say the department wants the unarmed robots to make up 25 percent of its patrolling force by 2030.
Clad in Dubai Police colors, the wheeled robot, which can shake hands and salute, is part of a government plan to use technology to improve services and security.
“These kind of robots can work 24/7. They won’t ask you for leave, sick leave or maternity leave.
[They] can work around the clock,” said Brig. Khalid Nasser AlRazooqi, director general of the Smart Services Department at Dubai Police.
The first automated police officer in the Middle East, the robot comes with cameras and facial recognition software. It can compare faces with a police database and read vehicle license plates. Its video feed can help police watch for risks such as unattended bags.
The public can report a crime verbally or via a touch-screen computer embedded in its chest.
“We now see the new generations who are using smart devices,” Razooqi said. “They love to use these kind of tools.” Reuters
