The fictional dream of robots roaming the streets has turned into reality as the world’s first Robocop has joined Dubai’s police force. It will patrol busy areas in the Dubai city and keep an eye on suspicious elements.
Robocop, the robot on wheels, is equipped with cameras and facial recognition software. It can compare faces with a police database and flag matches to headquarters. It can read vehicle license plates and its video feed can help police watch for risks such as unattended bags in popular areas of Dubai.
Brigadier Khalid Nasser Al Razooqi, director general of the Smart Services Department at Dubai Police, said, “These kinds of robots can work 24/7. They won’t ask you for leave, sick leave or maternity leave. It can work around the clock.”
The government has ambitious plans to make these robots make up 25 per cent of its patrolling force by 2030, if the ‘Robocop’ experiment proves successful.
This Robocop can also shake hands and perform a military salute. People can also talk to the robot to report a crime or communicate with it using a touch screen computer embedded in its chest.
Robocop is also reminiscent of 1987 American action film ‘RoboCop’ in which the main protagonist is a superhuman cyborg law enforcer.
