I was highly amused to read of New York City's new policing program for surveillance patrols.
The New York City Police Department and Mayor Eric Adams reintroduced the robotic police dog Tuesday after it was dismissed by the previous administration, and they rolled out two newer safety technologies as well.
Digidog, the $74,000 robot made by Boston Dynamics and previewed exclusively by Eyewitness News back in December 2020, fell victim to calls by civil rights advocates to cut police department funding.
Digidog first appeared in 2021 when the NYPD touted its ability to use its cameras, lights and communication system to help police in dangerous situations. Critics believed it emblematic of aggressive policing.
"A few loud people were opposed to it and we took a step back. That is not how I operate," Adams said during a news conference. "We are scanning the globe to find technology that will assure this city is safe."
There's more at the link.
I see two problems with this plan. First off, New York City is famous for its graffiti artists. How long do you think these robot cops (one is shown above) will remain "untagged"? I expect them to look something like this before long:
The second problem is that visitors from more... er... practically-oriented states are likely to see these robots as an intrusion, and may want to do something about it. At a local gun store this morning, the proprietor was talking to a Texas man who's about to visit NYC. He offered him a roll of stick-on high-visibility targets, encouraging him to apply them to every police robot he saw. He reckoned the local gang-bangers would get the idea in no time, and apply themselves to dealing with the matter. Looking at the increase in crimes involving firearms in NYC, it's hard to disagree...
Peter
Or, they'll just disappear, cannibalized for parts and electronics.
ReplyDeleteWonder if anyone will try and hold them for ransom? I can see a "where's Waldo" series of phots with one in ...uh...."odd" places.
$74,000 in parts just walking around NYFC without a gaggle of guards?
ReplyDeleteCopper pipe in your house, catalytic converters, and unsecured air conditioners aren't safe anymore in the US. How long would it take a chop shop to render one of these things?
These things can only be used in special cases where you already have a bunch of officers, and you use it instead of sending a real human into danger.
A Dalek or two might be more... efficient.
ReplyDeleteThat was my first thought, as well.
DeleteLet's face it" NYC is a lost cause with the exception of the Libs who give their kids a $20 bill to tuck in each shoe for the raptors when they come around
ReplyDeleteSeeing people are already knocking off electric vehicle charging stations for the copper, what valuable materials are in these?
ReplyDeleteAnd some find the theft “electrifying”!
DeleteI look at that thing and I think: where are its egg whisk and toilet plunger?
ReplyDeleteAnd then I think: is it armored? Like, at all? Or shielded against, say, some lunatic with a Tesla coil on a stick? (Which is totally not a thing I have. Honestly.)
Quick application of a Sawzall should turn it into a perfectly serviceable trash receptacle, right?
$740,000 not $74,000... sigh... And how soon will they be 'pushed' off the platforms?
ReplyDeleteDidn't work so well for Hitch hiker bot
ReplyDeletehttps://www.cnn.com/2015/08/03/us/hitchbot-robot-beheaded-philadelphia-feat/index.html
Eggbert is headed for the parts bins at the local spy store.
ReplyDelete