Robocop Is Back And This Time It’s For Real
The Telebot, developed by Florida International University’s Discovery Lab, has been field-tested and is nearing it’s entry into the real world.
The humanoid robot is controlled remotely by a person wearing an Oculus Rift headset and motion-tracking vest, arm bands and gloves. The voice of the remote operator is transmitted through the robot to the unfortunate citizen on the receiving end. It was designed specifically to appear intimidating and authoritative and was created to help disabled officers and veterans to be able to get back on the job.
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The Knightscope K5 does not wield weapons but serves as a total surveillance machine for cops or private clients. It has facial recognition and scans 1,500 license plates per minute, captures audio and 360-degree video, tests the air for chemicals, and maps its surroundings with 3D radar and laser. It can learn to distinguish “suspicious activities” from normal activities.
When the K5 puts all this data together and detects what it perceives as trouble, it alerts local authorities. In a few years, the robot will be recording people’s actions and conversations in public places all over.
Controversy erupted when in 2011, a police robot burned down a mobile home after triple-warhead gas grenades were fired into the home instead of flame-less grenades.
The robotization of our police can be related back to the Department of Defense and Homeland Security. Starting in 1997, the DOD transferred excess military equipment to police departments to help them fight the immoral war on drugs and The Department of Homeland Security gave grants to police departments for advanced tactical hardware to help fight those freedom-hating terrorists.
For now, the six-foot tall Telebot police robot could be patrolling the streets and handing out parking tickets as soon as 2016.
