Meet Xavier, Singapore's Robot Cop That Will Penalise Human Bad Behaviour
Singapore's Xavier robots will now patrol the crowded streets of its central area. What are its goals and what can the robo cop help authorities with? Read to find out
Are robots the future of law enforcement? Well, Singapore is giving it a go!
A small country, Singapore is considered one of the safest places in the world. Now, it's expanding its safety portfolio by inducting robo cops.
With new trials, robots patrol Singapore's public spots in hopes of preventing bad behaviour. What constitutes poor behaviour for the robo cop? A slew of actions like breaking coronavirus safety measures, smoking in prohibited spots, and parking bicycles improperly, as per a statement from Singapore's Home Team Science and Technology Agency.
Reuters
Xavier the protector
The twin robots - both named "Xavier" come equipped with cameras capable of detecting bad behaviour, after which they trigger real-time alerts to the central command centre.
Currently, Xaviers have been deployed at a spot with high footfall in the centre of Singapore, Reuters reported. The robo cops are presently on a three week-long trial wherein their surveillance capabilities will be tested to understand their merit or otherwise.
Reuters
Also read: Elon Musk's SpaceX Will Use 'Robot Chopsticks' To Catch 'Largest-Ever Flying Object'
In addition, Xaviers will display messages to people to educate them on improper conduct in public. Even then, the authorities are not going to use the robots for law enforcement just yet, or at least till the trials ends.
Reuters
According to the agency, Xaviers will assist public officers and help in reducing manpower required to patrol the streets of Singapore - a tourist favourite in Asia.
Also read: Future Is Now! Meet 'Tesla Bot', Elon Musk's Humanoid Robot
Singapore takes surveillance quite seriously, with the city hoping to have over 200,000 police cameras by 2030 - roughly double of the current number. And with the help of robo cops like Xavier, Singapore hopes to maintain its status as one of the safest places to visit and live in.
Would you suggest your local authorities to do the same? Would the tech even work in your areas? Let us know in the comments. And for the freshest in tech and science, don't forget to make check out Indiatimes.com regularly.
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