Dubai has added an interesting new hire of the non-human variety. Adding to the city’s high-tech crime prevention arsenal of powerful supercars and crime prediction software is an autonomous robot officer.
“Our aim is to raise the number of robots to 25 percent of the police force by 2030,” says Brigadier Khalid Nasser Alrazooqi, head of Smart Services at Dubai police.
On Wednesday, the robocop stood at the base of Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the world. The robot was decked out in a police cap, wheels, and computer touch screen placed squarely on its chest.
“The robot is going to be an interactive service for the people,” says Brigadier Khalid Nasser Alrazooqi. People can report crimes or inquire about speeding tickets using the robot’s onboard computer.
The initial design stems from REEM, a humanoid robot from PAL Robotics. Debuting in 2011, REEM was constructed as a wheel-based service robot located at airports, museums, and hospitals. The Dubai police worked with the team behind REEM to refine its initial blueprints.
According to an interview with CNN, the robot is 5 foot 6 inches, weighs 220 pounds, and can speak nine languages.
For now, the robot will be stationed mainly at tourist locations, serving as a responsive tool that can work around the clock. Armed with cameras, the officer also can transmit live images to its human counterparts to identify people of interest.
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