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Homemade Robot Patrols Atlanta Streets

Posted by Soulskill on from the serving-justice-and-delicious-hot-dogs dept.

Josh Fink brings news of an Atlanta resident who has created a remote control robot to scare off criminals during the night. Rufus Terrill, an engineer, uses it to patrol the streets and encourage drug dealers and other shady characters to move on. Local residents call it his "Robocop." From CNN: "It's a barbecue smoker mounted on a three-wheeled scooter, and armed with an infrared camera, spotlight, loudspeaker and aluminum water cannon that shoots a stream of icy water about 20 feet. Operated by remote control, the robot spotlights trespassers on property down the street from his bar, O'Terrill's. Using a walkie-talkie, Terrill belts out through the robot's loudspeaker, 'That's private property. You guys need to get out of here.'"

9 of 324 comments (clear)

  1. If it's Robocop... by twilightzero · · Score: 5, Funny

    C'mon, no "Drop you weapon, you have 15 seconds to comply"??

    --

    "Christ what a design! I could eat a handful of iron filings and PUKE a better emergency pump than that!"
  2. Just push it over by CohibaVancouver · · Score: 5, Funny

    If this Dalek was spraying water at me I'd just push it over. Can't be that difficult.

    1. Re:Just push it over by gijoel · · Score: 5, Funny

      This could be the start of a new frat boy prank.

      Dalek Tipping

  3. Can you say "better than being tasered?" by zappepcs · · Score: 5, Funny

    Police Major Lane Hagin says the robot is definitely a different crime-fighting idea. "There's no problem with the robot going up and down the street or being visible or any of the other things it does -- with the exception of spraying water on people."

    Hagin adds, "Then, it becomes an assault no matter where it happens." I thought you could... bet it costs less than a taser gun and training too.

    Assault? That seriously puts kids and the super soaker company in serious trouble? WTF?

    Seriously, assault? Perhaps, since the robot is black, it should only presume to act like the black night in Monty Python's 'Holy Grail' movie? ... don't run away, you coward! Come back, I'll burn you to death with my spotlight......
    --
    Support NYCountryLawyer RIAA vs People
    1. Re:Can you say "better than being tasered?" by Cadallin · · Score: 5, Insightful
      God, I'm getting so tired of the Whiny anti-smoking bitching. Especially outside. Get the fuck over it. These two points really piss me off. You don't like someone smoking near you outside? Move your lazy ass! And two, unless you are operating the only bar in town, you should abso-fucking-lutely have the right to make it a smoking establishment. Anybody who doesn't like it can go somewhere else.

      I don't even smoke, and that is not the point. I fervently believe people should have the right to smoke. It is 100% a personal liberty issue. Now, as for how it can be marketed and sold, I'm up for debate. I'd be fine with it being restricted to small scale growing for personal consumption, like marijuana is often produced in Medical Marijuana states, or Canada (Note that these places don't restrict it that way, its just most commonly produced that way.)

  4. The trouble with lights... by reality-bytes · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The problem with adding lights to the street is that it just allows the criminals to see what they are doing.

    --
    Ripping an new rectum in the fabric of spacetime.
  5. Re:Well, it's an idea... by Wandering+Wombat · · Score: 5, Funny

    Forget shooting it... I'd steal that sucker. RoboCriminal, away!

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    I like to place meaningful quotes in my sig, so people will know that I know what meaningful quotes are.
  6. Or him... by eln · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I read an article about it earlier where a homeless guy followed him back from the square and started joking with him about it. If this is a major money-making area for these drug dealers, it's only a matter of time before one of them follows him and shoots him. I like that he's trying to clean up the neighborhood, and the idea is novel, but I can certainly imagine someone getting a little stabby or shooty after getting sprayed with ice cold water while trying to conduct "business".

  7. Psychology & the Police by davecrusoe · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's quite neat that this guy has taken the time to build something to help keep the neighborhood "safer". But what's most interesting is that the "drug dealers" (etc) respond so strongly to the little, harmless robot; and that their response would probably be much more hostile toward police. In addition to a neat experiment in... safety... it's also a neat psychological study. --Dave