DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (Reuters) — A robotic policeman who can help identify wanted criminals and collect evidence has joined Dubai’s police force and will patrol busy areas in the city, as part of a government program aimed at replacing some human crime-fighters with machines.
If the “Robocop” experiment is successful, Dubai Police says it wants the unarmed robots to make up 25 percent of its patrolling force by 2030.
Clad in the colors of the Dubai Police uniform, the life-size robot, which can shake hands and perform a military salute, is the lighter side of a government plan to use technology to improve services and security ahead of Dubai hosting Expo 2020.
“It has many options, firstly that it can work for 24 hours, so this person, or man does not ask you for time off or two work only 5 hours a day; he works around the clock. There is some artificial intelligence as well so he can recognize wanted people through facial recognition; also can answer any queries made by people in both Arabic and English,” said Brigadier Khalid Nasser Al Razooqi, director general of the Smart Services Department at Dubai Police.
The first automated policeman in the Middle East, 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, a financial and tourism hub.
Most people are not nervous about talking to a robot and some even seem to prefer it, according to Razooqi.
“It can be considered as a communication tool with society. As you know the current generation likes to use smart devices, they like to use iPads. So the presence of a Robocop with all the smart options removes the fear barrier between policemen and society.”
Members of the public can also talk to the robot to report a crime or communicate with it using a touch screen computer embedded in its chest. Built by Barcelona-based PAL Robotics, and programmed by Dubai Police, the cost of the robot has not been disclosed.