It’s hard to tell how much of this story is real and how much is aspirational, but it really is only a matter of time:
About the size of a child’s electric toy car, the driverless vehicles will patrol different areas of the city to boost security and hunt for unusual activity, all the while scanning crowds for potential persons of interest to police and known criminals.
Denton • July 5, 2017 1:46 PM
“Please put down your weapon. You have 20 seconds to comply.”
Scott • July 5, 2017 3:31 PM
I first read “scanning crowds for potential persons of interest to police and known criminals” as ‘scanning crowds for potential persons of interest to both police and known criminals’: “Officer Jenkins, the burglary suspect is here. Pickpocket Smith, there’s a lady with lots of jewelry here.” 🙂
@JasonR, I hope they’re not armed either, but possibly for a different reason. It would be essentially an unattended weapon. Grab the remote unit, toss it in a Faraday cage, and drive it to your hideout. Disassemble to get a free gun.
Andrew • July 5, 2017 3:47 PM
Pretty nice, the future is here:
– scanning faces for convicted criminals
– scanning plates for stolen cars
– detecting gunshots
– alerting police/ambulance if someone is in danger
– offering information on request
– first aid gear on request
– general weather / danger alarms or information
-…
There is also an older robot:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/robot-security-guard-patrols-silicon-valley-article-1.2018755
LPA-11K • July 5, 2017 6:16 PM
So it’s Johhny Cab with a badge?
Screaming Fat Pig • July 5, 2017 7:22 PM
Minority Report Robotic Spiders
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=901lYbPmqu4
Alyer Babtu • July 6, 2017 4:21 AM
Of more than ordinary interest to the criminal hacker.
vas pup • July 6, 2017 8:41 AM
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/07/170705123229.htm
A ground-breaking new study challenges the assumption that moral decisions are strongly context dependent and cannot be modeled or described algorithmically, finding that human behavior in dilemma situations can be modeled by a simple value-of-life-based model. The research suggests that human moral behavior can be well-described by algorithms and used by machines to manage moral dilemmas on the road.
“Human behavior in dilemma situations can be modeled by a rather simple value-of-life-based model that is attributed by the participant to every human, animal, or inanimate object.” This implies that human moral behavior can be well described by algorithms that could be used by machines as well.”
The study’s authors say that autonomous cars are just the beginning as robots in hospitals and other artificial intelligence systems become more common place. They warn that we are now at the beginning of a new epoch with the need for clear rules otherwise machines will start making decisions without us.”
In a future I see that robots will adopt (bleeping) political correctness as well in the same fashion which looks for me as bad prospective for police cars in particular, i.e. application of enforcement based on suspect demographics, not actual behavior
Anon Y. Mouse • July 6, 2017 12:15 PM
In line with Denton’s comment, see also Ron Goulart’s short story “Into the Shop,”
which was made into an episode of the obscure television program Welcome to Paradox.
Jerry XCheck • July 6, 2017 5:47 PM
Heh. This scene from the movie Office Space needs no further comment.
Drone • July 7, 2017 1:52 AM
Cool. Mini robot cop cars. Now we need mini robot get-away cars and we can have mini car-chases! Of-course all would be broadcast live by flying mini drones 😉
TRX • July 22, 2017 4:04 PM
I predict a new and vastly entertaining game for Dubai youths with idle time…
Some number of points for destroying a police drone, more for capturing one intact.
Clive Robinson • July 23, 2017 3:34 AM
@ TRX,
I predict a new and vastly entertaining game for Dubai youths with idle time…
From a number of sources I gather that as a precentage of population size, Dubai and other Gulf states youth are way more interested in drones than anywhere else in the world.
Some one indicated that it’s the modern equivalent of falconary which is a tradition that remains strong in many Arab States.
So whilst aspects of the device does suprise me the fact that it’s being thought up for deployment in Dubi does not suprise me.
Also the Singapore aspect of it does not suprise me either, they have quite an interest in municipal automation technology.
Jasan Deen • July 31, 2017 8:36 AM
Dubai is always on the edge to do something new. They are always ahead of their time. This will be very cool if they deploy robotic police cars. I read they are working on making self driving taxis as well.
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Sidebar photo of Bruce Schneier by Joe MacInnis.
JasonR • July 5, 2017 1:44 PM
I’m sure it’ll be here soon. While each dip into security is a concern, the real fear is when it is equipped with a weapon, such as a firearm or laser. Rise of the machines, indeed.