On Tuesday, the Mayor of New York and the City Police Department (NYPD) unveiled several robots to help agents maintain security, including a “police dog” previously removed due to criticism.
“We announced three new police technologies in New York: the K5 autonomous security robot, the Digidog robot and the StarChase GPS accessory,” said Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell at a press conference in Times Square.
The city bought two Digidogs with accessories such as a gas detector for $750,000 (about €688,000) and will hand over two other technologies for a pilot test starting this summer for $1,750 (about €1,600). per month.
“I’m looking for the best for the city and three [ferramentas] which we are launching today [terça-feira] “This is just the beginning,” said Eric Adams, the mayor of the metropolis and a former police officer who bills himself as a big technology enthusiast.
The K5 robot is equipped with multiple cameras, sensors and artificial intelligence, allowing it to provide real-time information to agents.
This technology has been used in various areas of the United States and has helped, among other things, in shopping mall shootings.
After six months of testing, the robot will patrol Times Square and subway stations, according to the NYPD.
The StarChase system works by setting up a GPS device manually or by launching it from a vehicle onto an escaping vehicle, and the tool allows real-time tracking of the vehicle.
This technology will allow NYPD agents to remotely monitor a vehicle, thereby preventing a car chase on the streets of New York.
Digidogs that have previously been pilot tested will be included directly with the NYPD.
This yellow dog-like robot with a camera instead of a head, made by Boston Dynamics, was criticized by several civil rights advocates at the time, prompting the previous city leader, led by Bill de Blasio, to abandon it, handing it over to the fire department.
Adams explained that if a person has a kidnapped family member, he will appreciate this car.
The NYPD stressed that none of these tools support facial recognition.