On September 5, Singapore launched a autonomous robot designed to help weed out “bad public behavior.”
It was designed to patrol the neighbourhood in Toa Payoh Central as part of a three-week trial. Here’s what the robot looks like:
The Straits Times reported that “Xavier is an autonomous robot designed to weed out “undesirable social behaviours” that have been identified by public agencies.”
Instances in which Xavier may try and stop one’s bad behavior:
- Smokers in a non-smoking area
- Motorcycle riders on footpaths
- Gatherings that exceed current limits on group sizes
Xavier will be able to alert public officers in real time to offenses. The public agencies say that Xavier will “help to improve operational efficiency and reduce manpower needs for foot patrols.”
Read about all of Xavier’s technology and the intended uses of this robot here.
I guess it is inevitable that technology would be used to monitor people. I’d much prefer to see robots do this:
DCG
George Orwell’s dystopian 1984 totalitarian state is here. The only difference is that instead of Big Brother, the government of Singapore is conducting its population surveillance with a deceptively cute-looking robot. To add insult to injury, the robot carries the name of the 16th-century saint, Francis Xavier.
+I agree, I like the idea of the “Dancing Robot” as opposed to the “Police Patrole” robot. I think it would be rather creepy for a robot to tell people to disperse if they have gathered in a group that is deemed to be too large.
Sounds like RoboCop is here.
Singapore already is one of the cleanest, though strictest countries around when it comes to public “mis”behavior.
Pretty sure it’s still illegal to spit in public.
Does this mean that, if the”behavior policing” robots become pervasive all over the world, we need to start carrying a screwdriver or be prepared to” accidentally” spill a Big Gulp/soda/bottle of water/cup of coffee or tea on the operating parts of this mechanical yenta?
I’m trying to imagine how this robocop would bring a motorcyclist on the sidewalk to justice. Somehow,I don’t see how getting disassembled in public would correct anyone’s behavior flaws…..I wonder how long before they’re equipped with Laser-Cutters-or will they just take pictures,route them through Facial Recognition data-banks and send the Cops to arrest you at home?