Police robots will start patrolling the streets of Houston

The Houston Transit Authority has approved a project to test robot police officers in public places and city streets. 12 months of testing will cost the city $270 thousand.

Mechanical law enforcement officers will patrolrailway stations, public transport stops, parks and parking areas. The main objective of the project is to prevent petty crimes without involving police resources.

The administration plans to use 2 types of robots. The first is called K5 and is a 160-centimeter device in the shapebullets with a mass of more than 180 kg, which cantravel at a maximum speed of 4.8 km/h. Although its appearance and speed are unlikely to scare anyone, its ability to record video and transmit it to the police is a real threat to criminals. Similar devices are already effectively patrolling some shopping centers in the city.

The second guard will be the K1 robot,which resembles a cross between a lamppost and a telephone booth. He will work permanently, and in addition to monitoring, he will allow people to immediately report incidents to the police to controlled areas.

With the help of innovations, the administration does not hope to eradicate crime, but to use the technology as an additional reinforcement of the traffic police, reducing the hours of work of patrol officers.

In addition to the police, robots are also starting to help nurses with the heavy, unskilled part of the job, which distracts them from caring for patients.

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