Some New Yorkers are furious after the city’s police and mayor announced a new fleet of police robots that will patrol the streets and subways.
The three robots were announced for the first time in “Times Square”, after the former New York Police Department terminated the service of one type of robot after it considered it “racist”.
750 thousand dollars
The reintroduced robotic police dog is scheduled to help police officers navigate dangerous situations, two of which will be tested for $750,000, according to the British Daily Mail.
The K5 autonomous security robot, which employs the StarChase GPS system, will also monitor people and vehicles.
Mayor Eric Adams ran his campaign on a promise to eradicate crime in New York City, and he believes the robot dogs will be used to save lives.
The Future of Public Safety is NOW:
🐕 Digidog is a RC K-9 robot for use in assessing hazardous situations
🚙StarChase pilot will test a projectile that attaches a GPS-enabled device to stolen or ghost vehicles
🚨K5 ASR pilot will help conduct automated patrol in confined areas pic.twitter.com/4Qp05ph81o— NYC Mayor’s Office (@NYCMyorsOffice) April 11, 2023
Shocking crime report
For its part, the New York City Police Department released its annual report on crimes over the past year with numbers revealing an uptick in almost every category.
The statistics paint a grim picture of New York City’s efforts to tackle crime, which has soared since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, despite Mayor Adams claiming repeatedly that his campaign to solve the problem has been a success.
Advanced technological equipment
NYPD Commissioner Keshant Sewell said that to protect the modern city, officers must be “equipped with the tools, training and technology to do this job safely and effectively.”
The K5 autonomous safety robot is scheduled to take to the streets of New York for testing.
The K5 uses an artificial intelligence program that provides real-time incident notifications upon receiving reports. The egg-shaped robot is equipped with microphones, a camera, sonar and lidar sensors. It also works with self-driving technology. It is about 170 cm tall and weighs 180 kg, with a top speed of 5 km/h.
