Date Published: 20/03/2024
WATCH: Malaga police employ a robot dog to help patrol the streets
This super special agent will soon guard the Costa del Sol streets independently
The streets of Malaga have a new guardian and he’s already become something of a local celebrity. The Costa del Sol’s latest special agent is a robot dog, equipped with cutting-edge technology and specially designed to detect electric scooter riders who are breaking the rules.
Robo dog, who weighs 35 kilos, doesn’t yet have an official name but he caused quite a stir on his debut patrol of Calle Larios on Tuesday March 19. He has been designed by the Institute of Software Technology and Engineering (ITIS) of the University of Malaga, in collaboration with the Defence and Security Unit of Telefónica and the Spanish SME Alysis, with financing from Next Generation funds.
The robot has been developed as a support element for the Local Police of Malaga and his functions are impressive. The dog can record and analyse video footage in real time, detect traffic jams or problems on city roads and raise the alarm in case of emergency, as well as being able to deliver recorded messages.
Así es el perro-robot diseñado por la UMA (proyecto 5G TACTILE de @itis_uma) que la Policía LocalðŸ‘®â™€ï¸ de @malaga ha probado en las calles de la capital para mejorar la capacidad de respuesta ante situaciones de emergencia y crisis. +info: https://t.co/r5AUFTzvWs#Málaga pic.twitter.com/WBI72nT7hf
— Universidad de Málaga (@InfoUMA) March 20, 2024
His first mission is to rid the footpaths of unauthorised scooters and while the robot is still technically in the prototype phase, he can already carry out an independent patrol of Málaga city and detect electric mobility vehicles in his path.
Initially, this new special agent will accompany the Local Police in different tasks and will be controlled by an operator. Later, with the help of artificial intelligence, he will be able to make tours autonomously.
Developers have been working on the robot for 27 months and hope to have him working for the Local Police as soon as possible.
Capable of walking forwards and backwards, climbing stairs, sitting and turning around, the prototype looks like a dog but has the nine lives of a cat, according to one of his creators.
“It is absolutely autonomous and almost indestructible,” he said.
The robot dog’s next public outings are scheduled for mid-June in the centre of Malaga and in September in the facilities of the old prison, where a rescue drill will be carried out, in order to increase the complexity of the tasks.
Image: University of Málaga
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