I don't know about you, but the HP Robocop being tried out in SoCal just screams out, "FEAR!" Or maybe it lets everyone know there aren't enough cops. Probably a combo of the two.
I wonder how many gunshots it can take before it goes down. Someone is going to find out. The thing looks like a target at a shooting gallery. Note that they didn't test it out on Skid Row or in Compton.
Have we gotten past the use of beat cops, ones who know the neighborhood? Are we on the way to simple surveillance robots? If that's the case, why not have a mother ship loaded with drones that fly off and scout the area, returning to refuel?
It's all pretty creepy.
Clearly the path for a successful criminal is one that avoids handicap ramps, as it appears this thing couldn’t negotiate any steps or curbs..
ReplyDeleteNot only can't it negotiate steps and curbs, it looked like it had trouble going over cracks in the sidewalk!. I'm pretty sure it isn't shaped right to be a full weeble, either, so if someone gave it a hard shove I expect it would go down.
ReplyDeleteThen again, its general ineffectiveness might be intentional. Maybe the plan is to first get people used to obviously hapless robo-police, and then gradually make them more capable after people have largely forgotten about them.