The city of New York is no stranger to technological advances– from its iconic yellow cabs to the electric scooters buzzing through its streets, the Big Apple is always looking for ways to make life easier for its residents. Now, its mayor Bill de Blasio is joining the conversation by expressing his admiration for police robots – autonomous robotic devices that can patrol public spaces and provide extra eyes and ears during emergency situations.
Mayor de Blasio recently said at a press conference, “Robotics is going to play an important role in our law enforcement operations in the city. I believe the robots can be used to help us detect danger and combat threats to public safety, and prevent crime in the first place.”
The mayor’s comments come as the city prepares to deploy its first police robot in early 2021. Dubbed “Roboco”, the device made headlines last summer when it began patrolling parts of the Lower East Side of Manhattan. The robot is equipped with sensors and cameras that allow it to detect suspicious behavior. It can also track the location of people and objects within its vicinity.
Roboco’s future remains unclear as the city has yet to purchase and deploy more of them, but the mayor’s enthusiasm suggests that he could be a driving force behind the robot’s adoption.
In addition to Roboco, a number of other robotic devices have been developed for police work. These devices range from intelligent drones that can provide aerial surveillance of a crime scene to autonomous robotic arms that can lift heavy items at a crime scene. These robots could provide invaluable data that could not be obtained in any other way.
The mayor’s comments have been met with both excitement and trepidation. Some have praised the mayor’s enthusiasm, while others have expressed concern that robots could lead to an Orwellian police state. Regardless, the mayor’s commitment to embracing robotics indicates an effort to make New York a safer and more efficient city for residents and visitors alike.
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