Dubbed ‘like something out of Black Mirror‘, these police robots have began duties at a Singapore Airport – after five years of trials.
There are two of the bots now formally deployed at Changi Airport, although we don’t know their names. I’m presuming they have names!
They’re the first of their kind, with the police force in plans to deploy many more across the Southeast Asian city-state in an attempt to “augment frontline officers” over the next few years.
Impressively, they can reach over 7 feet tall when fully extended, and boast 360-degree vision. Don’t you just want to give one of them a hug?
Here’s what superintendent and operations head Lim Ke Wei of airport police had to say about these cuties on duty (sorry, am I taking this a bit too far now?).
The integration of robotics enhances the operational efficiency and capabilities of our frontline officers, enabling them to be more effective in their duties.
You might think they don’t have much in terms of a face, but they each come with built-in speakers to broadcast audio, and a rear LCD panel helps them communicate visual messages. They’re usually around my height (at 5’5ft tall), but when they want to get really scare, they can reach 7.5 feet!
Their 360-degree vision also means multiple cameras, so you won’t be able to get much past these bad boys.
They’re not the first bots to be given civic duties in Singapore – and they definitely won’t be the last.
American traveler Samwell Swant was on his way to Vietnam when he spotted one of these polite, people-serving bois, and he told CNN:
“It was certainly a sight – like something out of a movie or Black Mirror. It was hard not to notice.”
Just remember to be nice to them – unlike Samwell, here – so that maybe they’ll spare you when the time comes.
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