RoboCop car comes with an intruder-chasing drone
If RoboCop has a gun in his thigh, this robotic security car from Singapore has a drone that it can send after intruders. Singaporean startup Otsaw Digital has created a 176-pound golf-cart-sized automated vehicle called O-R3 that companies can use for security. It has 3D LIDAR sensors and GPS, along with other instruments that it uses to spot unattended bags and to differentiate between employees and intruders. If it spots a bag that remains unattended for five minutes, for instance, it raises an alarm and marks it for further investigation in case it's something dangerous.
It can differentiate the people security personnel mark as employees from unknown individuals. If it determines that a person is an intruder, it will send a drone after him up to around 328 feet away. Otsaw chief Ling Ting Ming explains that the drone can be especially useful if there are obstacles blocking the vehicle's way, since it can provide an aerial view of the area to expose potential hiding places.
Singapore expects robots
to play a big role in its bid to become the world's first smart city,
and it sounds like Otsaw's O-R3 fits its government's vision perfectly.
Clients will be able to rent one for $10,000 a month, which is slightly
less than what establishments in the country are paying four security
guards. While it can take over the low-level tasks, such as patrolling
areas, from humans, though, Ling believes the machine can't completely
replace flesh-and-blood workers. O-R3, he says, can complement human
security personnel hired for jobs that require a higher level of skills.
You
can watch O-R3 in action above. To note, it's the outdoor version of
the machine. The company is also working on a smaller indoor version
with no lasers and drones, and which will likely cost less.
Courtesy: Engadget
Courtesy: Engadget
