At more than 2 meters tall when fully extended and with 360-degree vision they’re formidable enough to make any would-be lawbreaker think twice.

But Robocop they are not.

These are the two robots the Singapore Police Force has introduced to patrol Changi Airport following more than five years of trials. And they are just the first such robots the force plans to deploy across the Southeast Asian city-state to “augment frontline officers” in the years to come.

The robots, which have been patrolling the airport since April, are meant to “project additional police presence” and serve as extra “eyes on the ground,” according to the force, which describes them as the latest addition to its “technological arsenal.”

And they are no mere gimmick. During an incident, says the force, the robots are able to enforce cordons and warn bystanders using their blinkers, sirens and speakers while they wait for human officers to arrive. Members of the public can directly communicate with the force by pushing a button on the robots’ front.

The Singapore Police Force said Friday that more robots would be “progressively deployed” across the city-state.

“The integration of robotics enhances the operational efficiency and capabilities of our frontline officers, enabling them to be more effective in their duties,” said superintendent and operations head Lim Ke-wei of airport police.

Each robot comes with in-built speakers that broadcast audio messages and a rear LCD panel displaying visual messages. They stand at roughly 1.7 meters tall, but have extendable masts that take that up to 2.3 meters.

They are also equipped with multiple cameras giving them 360-degree vision, enabling airport police to have “unobstructed views” for “better incident management,” it added.

They are just the latest robots to be employed on civic duties in this tech-savvy nation of more than 5 million people.

Earlier versions of the robots were deployed at public parades in 2018 and 2022. During the coronavirus, robot dogs were used to enforce strict social distancing, while cleaner robots are a common sight at metro stations across the country — as well as at the airport.

Meanwhile, transport officials are hopeful commercial flying taxis could be a reality in just two years’ time.

Words to Learn 相关词汇

【闪灯】

shǎndēng

blinker

a device that blinks, especially a vehicle's turn signal

【噱头】

xuétóu

gimmick

a trick or device used to attract business or attention

它们不是“机械战警”，但完全伸展时有两米多高，具有360度的视野，足以使任何想违法的人三思而后行。

新加坡警方经过五年多的试验后为樟宜机场部署了两个机器人，是计划中的第一批，这个东南亚城市国家未来几年将部署更多机器人以“增强一线警力”。

机器人4月开始在机场巡逻，旨在 “增加警力”，加强实时监控，警方称它们是其“技术武库”的最新补充。

它们可不是噱头。发生警情时，机器人能够拉起警戒线，并在等待人类警察期间，使用其闪灯、警报器和喇叭警告旁观者。公众可以按下机器人正面的一个按钮与警察直接沟通。

新加坡警方周五表示，更多的机器人将“逐步部署”到全国各地。

“机器人技术的整合提高了一线警员的行动效率和能力，帮助他们更有效地履职，”机场警务总监兼业务主管林克伟说。

机器人内置的扬声器可以播放音频信息，后部的液晶面板可以显示视觉信息，高约1.7米，具有可延伸的桅杆，可完全展开至2.3米。

它还配备了多个摄像头，具有360度的视野，使机场警察能够“一览无余”，

以便“更好地处理问题”。

新加坡拥有500多万人口，科技发达，此前已开始使用机器人执行公务。

早期版本的机器人曾在2018年和2022年的公众游行中执勤。

新冠疫情期间，机器狗被用来执行严格的社交距离，而清洁机器人则是地铁站和机场的常见景象。

同时，交通官员希望商用飞行出租车能够在两年内成为现实。(SD-Agencies)