Just weeks after Dubai announced first flying taxis in the world, Dubai Police have unveiled another world’s first - autonomous, self-driving miniature police cars that are expected to hit the streets by year-end.
Dubai Police is set to become the first in the world to deploy an autonomous vehicle to carry out security duties. The robotic vehicles will be equipped with biometric software to scan for wanted criminals and undesirables who are suspected or are breaking laws, police said.
The deployment is part of the call by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai the world's smartest by harnessing the latest technology.
Dubai Police has teamed up with Atsao Singapore Limited on the manufacture of the self-driving vehicle, a statement said. It added that the vehicle can be programmed to roam in a certain area, equipped with cameras and sensor radar. It has voice chat with the operating room and can detect suspicious objects and follow suspects.
Major General Abdulla Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, said that the patrol car has been specially designed to be used in the streets of the city. It will also help fight crime, maintain security and enhance people's happiness, he said in the statement.
Al-Marri said that he will head the Dubai Police General Police Task Force in this project and will participate in and supervise the final stages. No date has been given for the first autonomous patrol vehicle to enter police service as yet.
About the size of a child’s electric toy car, the driverless vehicles will patrol different areas of the city to boost security and hunt for unusual activity, all the while scanning crowds for potential persons of interest to police and known criminals.
The new security system is so advanced that the mini-vehicle even comes with its own drone which can be launched via a rear sleeve - both are monitored and linked to Dubai Police command room.
Dubai Police signed a new deal with Singapore-based OTSAW Digital to deploy the new autonomous outdoor security robots - called O-R3 by the firm - as part of the Smart Dubai initiative, making Dubai the first city in the world to have O-R3 in operation, said police.
The memorandum was signed by Major-General Abdullah Khalifa Al Merri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, and Ling Bing, CEO of OTSAW Digital, at Dubai Police headquarters.
“Dubai Police are keen to get the latest technology to fight crime. We always search for the best technology to serve our police work for a safer and smarter city. We seek to augment operations with the help of technology such as robots. We aim for streets to be safe and peaceful even without heavy police patrol,” Maj-Gen Al Merri said.
“We always look to achieve Dubai’s vision of becoming a Smart City. We expect it will be ready during the next Gitex fair,” he said.