- Title: Robocop joins Dubai police to fight real life crime
- Date: 1st June 2017
- Summary: DUBAI, UAE (RECENT) (REUTERS) DUBAI POLICE BOOTH AT TECHNOLOGY EXHIBITION ROBOCOP IN FRONT OF THE BOOTH ROBOCOP SALUTING VARIOUS OF MAN TAKING SELFIE WITH ROBOCOP LOGO OF DUBAI POLICE DUBAI, UAE (MAY 31, 2017) (REUTERS) DIRECTOR GENERAL OF SMART SERVICES DEPARTMENT BRIGADIER KHALID NASSER AL RAZOOQI AT HIS DESK UAE FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DIRECTOR GENERAL OF SMART SERVICES DEPARTMENT BRIGADIER KHALID NASSER AL RAZOOQI, SAYING: "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 to work only five 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." JOURNALIST FLIPPING PAGES (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DIRECTOR GENERAL OF SMART SERVICES DEPARTMENT BRIGADIER KHALID NASSER AL RAZOOQI, SAYING: "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." DUBAI, UAE (RECENT) (REUTERS) MAN TAKING PICTURE OF ROBOCOP VIEW OF ROBOCOP SHOWING DUBAI POLICE LOGO AT THE BOTTOM MAN SHAKING HANDS WITH ROBOCOP
- Embargoed: 15th June 2017 13:31
- Keywords: artificial intelligence Dubai police force Robocop
- Location: DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
- City: DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
- Country: United Arab Emirates
- Topics: Science
- Reuters ID: LVA0016JG20R9
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A robotic policeman which 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 programme 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 colours 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 licence 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. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None