A new kind of policeman is now providing security for visitors to Dubai’s malls and tourist attractions. The Dubai government recently deployed REEM, a humanoid service robot from PAL Robotics.
Humans interact with REEM, which is as tall as a person, via a touchscreen. REEM can collect fines and provide information as well as communicating reports of crimes to Dubai’s police, as well as to traffic and transport authorities. The robot is available 24/7.
Dubai’s REEM is one of a class of robots developed by PAL specifically to interact with humans. The robot comes equipped with an autonomous navigation system that allows it to navigate around any environment. Top speed is 5 km/hour. The robot’s head can rotate and is capable of face tracking and recognition. The lithium battery pack has an eight-hour charge.
In addition to performing security functions, REEM can serve as a guide or as an entertainer. It is also capable of carrying small (5 kg) loads.
Dubai police plan to make their force 25 percent robotic by 2030, but not at the expense of human employees. “With the number of people in Dubai increasing, we want to relocate police officers so they work in the right areas and can concentrate on providing a safe city,” said Brog Khalid Al Razooqi, director general of Dubai’s smart police services.
