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Robotcop III Set to Fight Crime in Hong Kong

Roland Piquepaille writes "There is a new cop patrolling the streets of Hong Kong and teaching children how to prevent crime. But it's a robot named Robotcop III, designed and built in Hong Kong, according to Channel Newsasia. Robotcop III can walk, dance, move in any direction, display videos and answer questions asked in Cantonese and English. The previous versions of Robotcops, introduced in 1988 and 1995, were imported from the U.S. and taught 800,000 school children how to fight crime. The promoters of Robotcop III hope it will do even better. More details and references are available in this overview including a photo of Robotcop III patrolling on Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) campus."

20 of 215 comments (clear)

  1. Can it navigate stairs by Eric+Smith · · Score: 4, Funny
    better than ED-209?

    And hopefully they haven't programmed it with hundreds of conflicting directives.

    1. Re:Can it navigate stairs by drgonzo59 · · Score: 5, Funny

      But, can it eat doughnuts, drink coffee, and racially profile people, that's the real question!

    2. Re:Can it navigate stairs by CriX · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Can it fight crime???

      How is this total dumbass robot supposed to do anything but get its ass kicked by punk kids?? Seriously, it would be better to send a human police officer to schools to teach kids about crime prevention. Then again, this robot may get the kids attention better, but as for actualy fighting crime, this robot couldn't stand a chance.

      *In a robot voice barely audible with all the gunfire*:

      Please stop shooting that person. Come back. Please come off the curb and back onto the street. I am a dumbass robot and can't move over any obstacle over two inches because I have wheels and a long plastic skirt. You have the right to ....

      hah.

      --
      Moderation: +1 pwnage
  2. Xiong meng de kuang ren by rune-bare-rune · · Score: 4, Funny

    No, that's not it.
    What is cantonese for "Your move, creep", again?

    Rune -- Change is good, you go first

  3. I want one by BillsPetMonkey · · Score: 4, Funny

    dance, move in any direction, display videos and answer questions

    My local copper just sits in his panda car eating donuts.

    --
    "It's not your information. It's information about you" - John Ford, Vice President, Equifax
  4. Better hope no kids were scared by Dr.Who by baryon351 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Better hope no kids were scared by Dr.Who, cos that thing looks too too familiar.

    Daleks take hong kong!

  5. So I guess... by Nplugd · · Score: 5, Funny

    this thing will fight crime by making criminals laugh to death?
    It looks like a bad episode of Lost in Space.

    --
    Je n'ai pas d'avenir Je n'ai qu'un destin Celui de n'être qu'un souvenir C'est pour demain
  6. Dance machines... by MagicDude · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yeah, then can dance, but they can only do The Robot. Why couldn't these guys be in Japan? I'd like to see them on the DDR machines.

  7. okay by geekoid · · Score: 4, Funny

    I can't take any asian Robo-"Anything " seriously unless it is at LEAST 15 meters tall, with 6 missiles and a giant sword.
    A flame thrower would be nice, be obviously that could look silly.

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    1. Re:okay by Monkelectric · · Score: 3, Insightful

      yea when they highlight a robots ability to "move in any direction" you know its a pretty shitty robot.

      --

      Religion is a gateway psychosis. -- Dave Foley

  8. impressive by nmoog · · Score: 4, Funny
    Robotcop III can walk, dance, move in any direction...
    Wow... thats 2 more things than regular cops can do!
  9. There's no mention of... by Channard · · Score: 4, Interesting

    .. how they'd stop it being vandalized. Presumably it's not so good to have a cop that needs protecting itself, escorting around and generally stopping people spray-painting it etc. I wonder how much dried gum this guy accumulates?

  10. Re:Yep, they're out of ideas by xstein · · Score: 5, Informative

    Hong Kong is one of the safest cities in the world.

    As a Hong Kong resident I can tell you I would have absolutely no reservations whatsoever about letting my 13 year old daughter roam the streets of even the darkest parts of HK at 3am alone. The only crime here is organised (not that that's acceptable), but the streets are absolutely safe.

    This robot cop is to be used primarily to educate youths on crime and the dangers of joining triad rings, not to actually fight crime RoboCop-style.

  11. Three observations. by Matrix2110 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Did anybody notice the cute radio and nightstick in its "Belt?" I am guessing these a non-functional for obvious reasons. Like I would want a nightstick wielding robot coming after me for RIAA transgressions.

    I can also say with certainty that this thing is controlled via a human. After seeing T3 would you want it any other way?

    Also the most creepy thing. Take a close look at its "Nose" where the camera is. Now take a closer look and think twenty years from now, I see a gun in that place. Almost looks like it now.

    Shudder.

  12. No robocop by Underholdning · · Score: 5, Informative

    Before anyone jumps to conclusions, let me just clarify that this is not a robocop in the "must destroy man kind" fashion. This is more like the info boxes you find in airports. Only difference is, that this one can move a bit. Coincidentially, I was at the exact spot where the picture was taken last month, and I have no doubts that the robot can move around there, since the place is pretty flat. But I was also walking the streets of Hong Kong, and there's no way this robot can move, let alone navigate, on the busy streets of HK. I reckon this will pay visits to schools and walk around in the school yard answering questions.

  13. Re:Yep, they're out of ideas -- B.S. by sydneyfong · · Score: 4, Insightful

    (Troll? But since you're spewing crap discrediting to my city, I'll respond)

    Now where'd you get your ideas from? (lemme guess... HK movies?? The people who produce local movies are rarely well-educated people, and know nothing more than producing crap movies about made-belief, unrealistic gangster lives. All the other talented people in our movie industry go to Hollywood.)

    >> Policing HK has become a nightmare.
    Our police forces are very much in control.

    >> The Chinese mafia has essentially taken over the islands

    The only people hiding in the Islands are probably illegal immigrants from mainland China. Not to say they don't pose any threat to the local people, but they are not in any way organized. And the reason they are there is because there are so many small islands around, it's impossible to patrol them all every single second.

    >> and controls crime and legitimate business
    wtf? *Legit business? You're smoking crack. Hong Kong is a city with a International fame and has close links with businesses from all over the world. Surely you don't mean those businesses deal with thugs here?

    >> from the top rungs of society down to the street gutters.
    Street gutters perhaps. Top of society, no. Frankly, I've never come in contact with any gangsters before.

    >> lured some of the best and brightest of HK into the underworld where there is more money to be made than in the legitimate world.
    Most people who commit crimes here are anything but the "best and brightest". As for the money part, well, ain't it the major incentive for people committing crimes, as it always had been?

    Hong Kong might not be the safest city in the world, but it is surely safer than many places in the world. There is no major crime problem here.

    btw, I live in Hong Kong.

    --
    Don't quote me on this.
  14. List RobotCop Prime Directives by PhotoBoy · · Score: 5, Funny

    DIRECTIVE 1 Serve the public trust

    DIRECTIVE 2 Protect the innocent

    DIRECTIVE 3 Uphold the law

    DIRECTIVE 4 Never oppose an OCP officer

    DIRECTIVE 5 Change name slighly to prevent copyright lawsuit

    1. Re:List RobotCop Prime Directives by superyooser · · Score: 4, Funny

      And the directives go in ROBOTS.TXT.

  15. I saw the 1st one by AmVidia+HQ · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I was in HK elementary school, and I remembered the day the cops did their speech along with the cute robot. There were trivia games, and I remembered I got some duotangs and goodies. Those were the days ^.^

    I think things like these are great. Real human sized robots really catches attention of kids and leave a lasting impression. This should be an example for all to follow: the deeper an impression you leave, the more effective you are in educating and getting your point across.

    --
    VIVA1023.com | Political Fashion.
  16. Corruption rankings by Hittite+Creosote · · Score: 3, Informative
    The Chinese mafia has essentially taken over the islands
    UCLA Asia institute rankings of corruption. Note that Hong Kong is viewed as being less corrupt than Japan.

    Oh, and some place called the United States.