Meet R BOT 001, Russia's New Robocop

R BOT 001, aka "robokopa," a mechanical police officer, has just reported for duty in the city of Perm, just east of Moscow.

Robokopa's "zone of responsibility" is the center of town, and his primary function is to record offenses against the law using his five cameras. Robokopa also urges citizens to heed the law, noodging them with recitations of local statutes in a grim monotone. One likely piece of advice for citizens: stop drinking on the street and go inside.

Developed at Moscow State Technical University from Japanese models, the robotic police officer weighs 250 kilograms, and features an unstoppable shape. Its shape is referred to as being similar to that of an egg, as well as being missile-like.

Future versions are expected to be able to deal with curbs and steps; a human face might also be added.

This Russian "robokopa" still has quite a way to go before he can start to compete with fictional police robots - like the experimental robot cop from Harry Harrison's excellent 1958 story Arm of the Law:

Experimental or not, this was a nice-looking hunk of machinery. A uniform navy-blue all over, though the outlet cases, hooks and such were a metallic gold... This was as close as a robot could get to a cop in uniform, without being a joke.
Then I noticed the tiny glow of light in the robot's eye lenses...

"Get out of that box," I said.

The robot came up smooth and fast as a rocket, landing two feet in front of me and whipping out a snappy salute.
(Read more about the police experimental robot)

I think that this mechanized "officer" falls into the general category of security guard robots - see First Chinese Security Guard Robot, Rotundus And Rover: Robotic And Fictional Guardians and Banryu Guard Dragon Home Robot (that's one little bot I'd like to see take to the streets!).

Via Russia Hires Robocop To Keep Visitors Safe and Робот-полицейский не метит в генералы. Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 6/28/2007)
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