Governments around the world are grappling with the challenge of providing a safe and liveable environment for their citizens, but with increasing global population crime rates are increasing in many parts of the world. Additionally, in many urban locations there is a shortage of police resource owing to factors like stressful working environments. This can result in residents limiting their physical and social engagement activities and have an overall negative impact on the quality of life, especially for the people living in urban areas. As a result, authorities have started relying on new technologies to deter crimes.
In a recent report, “Digital Transformation in Smart Cities” Transforma Insights has analysed in detail the role of digitally transformative technologies to promote public safety, including the use of CCTV, drones, and robots to improve safety in places such as airports, railway stations, parks, retail malls, roads, and public spaces. This blog focusses on robots being deployed for public safety, explains the major benefits of doing so, and lists some innovative case studies.
Using robots for public safety
Robots are proving to be invaluable assets when it comes to safeguarding both civilians and law enforcement personnel from hazardous and hostile environments. By deploying robots law enforcement officials can significantly decrease the exposure of police personnel to threats such as gun violence, so enhancing overall safety during critical operations. In addition, robots offer an effective means for accessing and navigating through dangerous and hard-to-reach areas, providing law enforcement with enhanced capabilities to ensure public security in diverse and challenging scenarios.
Numerous law enforcement agencies are actively integrating robots into their day-to-day operations to bolster public safety. A notable example is the New York Police Department, which, in April 2023, introduced Digidog in the form of a pair of patrolling robots designed to enhance security in the bustling Times Square area. These advanced robots come equipped with a range of sophisticated features, including LiDAR, cameras, GPS, speakers, and microphones. The pilot initiative was initially run for six months at a cost of USD9 per hour and aimed to assess the effectiveness of these robotic patrollers, with human officers providing oversight to ensure a seamless integration of technology into law enforcement practices.
In addition to robots, aerial drones are also being employed to assist police officers in assessing challenging locations, such as hazardous areas. These drones provide real-time surveillance through aerial photography and videography, enabling monitoring of large crowds by law enforcement authorities and potentially live streaming incidents such as hostage situations. Equipped with thermal cameras and other sensors, these drones generate visual maps of infrared radiation emitted by various objects. This capability enhances authorities’ ability to visualise situations, particularly in adverse weather conditions like fog or smoke, as well as in hazardous environments.
For example, the South Jordan Police Department in Utah, USA, has employed Autel’s Dragonfish drones for purposes such as accident reconstruction, public safety monitoring, rescue missions, and tactical operations. These drones feature zoom cameras, thermal imaging capabilities, and AI enabled tracking, and can fly at a maximum speed of 108 km/hr. The deployment of Dragonfish drones has significantly boosted the department’s efficiency, lowered costs, and improved its decision-making processes in critical situations.
Below we list some innovative examples of the deployment of robots by police authorities around the world.
- Goalie in Seoul (South Korea): South Korea has deployed Goalie in a neighbourhood of Seoul, to detect danger, alert people to dangers, and communicate remotely with a control centre. Goalie weighs about 300 kg, uses satellite navigation and remote sensing technology to avoid obstacles, and relies on thermal imaging to patrol at night. Currently, owing to the lack of existing regulation, Goalie needs a human to accompany it, and to comply with South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Act, video footage is live-streamed and cannot be stored.
- Rob in Portland (USA): In December 2023, a remote-controlled security robot called Rob was deployed at the 42-story Bancorp Tower in Portland, primarily to patrol the building’s parking garage. The robot stands 5 feet and 5 inches tall, boasting a weight of 420 pounds. It is equipped with cameras and speakers for video surveillance and a two-way intercom. This setup facilitates communication between security officers within the building and individuals outside, enhancing the overall security of the building. Unico, the provider of Rob, claims that the robot can read vehicles license plates, detect heat in objects, and send alerts if it identifies banned individuals in the vicinity of the building, thereby enhancing overall security.
- Xavier in Singapore: Singapore started trials of two robots named Xavier to patrol public areas and deter poor social behaviour, such as parking bicycles in incorrect places, smoking in prohibited areas, and disobeying safety measures during the Covid outbreak. These robots were equipped with cameras to send real-time alerts to a command-and-control centre. Their deployment was expected to reduce the manpower needed for foot patrols and improve operational efficiency.
Smart robots can significantly enhance public safety
The incorporation of robots in smart cities represents a notable advance in public safety. Robots employed for surveillance, patrolling, and emergency response add an extra layer of vigilance that complements conventional policing approaches. As smart city initiatives progress, the seamless integration of robotic systems equips law enforcement with sophisticated tools supporting efficient monitoring and swift responses.
Paras Sharma
Joydeep Bhattacharyya