Like a scenario straight out of Hollywood, a real humanoid robot has now joined the Thai police force.
This first RoboCop-style office was unveiled in the city of Nakhon Pathom. Thanks to its panoramic vision and facial recognition capabilities, it is already making its presence felt at large gatherings.
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) recently caused quite a stir by unveiling the world's very first humanoid police robot. Named the "AI Police Cyborg 1.0,” it is currently operational in the city of Nakhon Pathom.
The RTP has shared photos of the country’s first AI police robot deployed in Nakhon Pathom province during the Songkran festival.
“Pol Col Nakhonpathom Plod Phai”, which translates ‘Nakhon Pathom is safe’ has been deployed at the Songkran venue on Tonson Road in Muang district to enhance public safety, the RTP said in a facebook post.
Equipped with 360-degree wide-angle cameras, it offers continuous panoramic surveillance. And because it incorporates a facial recognition system, it can identify individuals on watch lists in a nearby crowd.
The robot can also detect potentially dangerous objects, such as sticks or knives, and analyze any suspicious behavior.
Beyond facial recognition, the robot can search for individuals based on their physique or the clothes they are wearing.
All the data it collects is transmitted in real time to a command center for rapid coordination with other, human agents.
The idea is to initially integrate it into surveillance teams at large gatherings such as demonstrations or festivals. Later, depending on results and feedback, the authorities could deploy it in other contexts.
It goes without saying that the incorporation of such a robot into the local police force -- a world first -- is not without raising ethical questions, particularly regarding privacy in public space.
In any case, this is a new stage in the deployment of humanoid robots, a sector that is currently booming.
For example, the Norwegian start-up 1X Technologies plans to test its Neo Gamma robot in real-life conditions this year, in several hundred homes, with the aim of teaching it many everyday actions and how to adapt to an environment full of human beings.
At the same time, this type of robot is increasingly finding its way into the world of work, as demonstrated by Chinese manufacturer UBTech 's deployment of several dozen of its humanoid robots in an electric car factory. -- RelaxNews via AFP
