Jun 26, 2007
As of today, the city of Perm in Russia has a robot policeman patrolling the streets. The robot, named R BOT 001 (I wonder who picked the name) is a 250kg and 180cm high. The best part is that the robot is getting official rank. He is currently a trainee, but will soon become a cadet.
I’ve yet to find a picture of it (EDIT: Pictures found — it looks unbelievably
Russian!), but his description (”between a bomb and an egg”) seems to indicate that it’s a bulky body on wheels, designed in a tank-like fashion to minimize possiblities of crooks damaging it. The robot has a help button for passerby’s. What that button does is unclear, but potentially puts you in touch with local humans. R BOT has 5 cameras to perceive it’s environment, and can issue simple commands to folks up to no good. The robot’s handler jokes that perhaps a monotonous and repeating instruction will sink better in than a human one.
I’m really excited to see the details, which I’m should emerge in the next few days when the major newssites pick up on the story.
[via News.com.au, Image credit: Technovelgy]
12 Comments, Comment or Ping
Avinash
wow! This has to be the best news I’ve come across in the year 2007.
Jul 4th, 2007
Anonymous
I found a pic just look up r Bot 001 on google and click on fist theing it will show two pics
Jul 8th, 2007
Hrafn
Yeah, the images started popping up on the web about two days after I posted the story. But I’d completely forgotten to append one. Thanks!
Jul 8th, 2007
Saul Wall
A mobile set of security cameras is a neat idea especially if it accommodates telepresence. It would seem less Big Brother-ish than lots of stationary cameras but the perps would have to treat it like a beat cop - always having to watch for it. I would have added a pepper spray nozzle, a high speed baseball launcher and some of those paint grenades. Maybe a rocket launcher for Saturday nights.
Jul 14th, 2007
Will
“Made in China” I guarantee it! LOL. The russians couldn’t put together a pack of legos!
Jul 18th, 2007
Will
You all know I’m kidding right? I love the Russians.
Jul 18th, 2007
Dante
The biggest problem is trying to stop people from stealing them, I beleive, if that weren’t the case I’d of gotton my post from a machine (and be all the more elated for it)
Oct 1st, 2008
Will
I have a question. What’s the plugin that you’re using that allows people to be notified with follow-up comments via email? Is it for wordpress?
Oct 1st, 2008
Hrafn Thorisson
Hi Will, yeah it’s for Wordpress and it’s available here.
Oct 3rd, 2008
Will
Oh man, thanks a lot! You guys rock! I love the article as well. You know what’s funny? I commented to this post a year ago and it emailed me the other day when someone commented to it. I’m glad it did. I’ve learned a great deal and the article is still very interesting. Thanks again.
Oct 3rd, 2008
Hrafn Thorisson
Thanks for the compliments Will, and glad you learned! Hope to see more of you around here.
Oct 3rd, 2008
Will
No problem. Sooo, can that robot do my taxes?
Just wondering.
Oct 3rd, 2008
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