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R2-D2: Mall Cop

Posted by samzenpus on from the these-are-not-the-sales-you-are-looking-for dept.

theodp writes "'The night watchman of the future,' explains the NY Times' John Markoff, 'is 5 feet tall, weighs 300 pounds and looks a lot like R2-D2 – without the whimsy. And will work for $6.25 an hour.' California-based Knightscope has developed a mobile robot known as the K5 Autonomous Data Machine as a safety and security tool for corporations, as well as for schools and neighborhoods. 'But what is for some a technology-laden route to safer communities and schools,' writes Markoff, 'is to others an entry point to a post-Orwellian, post-privacy world.'"

6 of 139 comments (clear)

  1. More Fun To Tip Than Cows by Greyfox · · Score: 3, Funny

    Just put your Guy Fawks mask on and aim for the head!

    --

    I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?

    1. Re:More Fun To Tip Than Cows by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Does it roll down stairs?

      Alone or in pairs.
      Rolls over your neighbour's dog.

  2. Spray-paint and bubble-gum!!? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    While I appriciate your attempt, it's hardly the best you could do.

    From the master:

    "As laser-wielding robots home in on his body heat, MacGyver creates a fake heat signature by using magnets wrapped in burning paper. He opens several telephone handsets to get the magnets, and finds paper and matches in the science lab he is in. Once aflame, he throws one piece of burning paper, with a magnet wrapped inside, at each robot. The magnets stick to the metal of the robots. With each robot "tagged," they home in on each other and destroy one another." (e01s02)

  3. Says it all. by Virtucon · · Score: 4, Funny

    “We have a different perspective,” Mr. Li said. “We don’t want to think about ‘RoboCop’ or ‘Terminator,’ we prefer to think of a mash up ‘Batman,’ ‘Minority Report’ and R2-D2.”

    I guess ultimately this product will be a whimsical vigilante that will seal you in a hole in the ground if it thinks you're going to spit on the sidewalk?

    --
    Harrison's Postulate - "For every action there is an equal and opposite criticism"
  4. So then... by Chris+Mattern · · Score: 5, Funny

    'The night watchman of the future,' explains the NY Times' John Markoff, 'is 5 feet tall, weighs 300 pounds and looks a lot like R2-D2 â" without the whimsy. And will work for $6.25 an hour.'

    So, no changes from the present, then.

  5. Re:I'm sure its nothing by LoRdTAW · · Score: 3, Funny

    I have a better idea. Get a bunch of foam spheres, cut them in half and apply sticky tape to the flat side. Then get a plunger along with a whisk and put a sticky mount on each end. And as a bonus, hide the electronic guts of one of these inside of a half sphere and modify the switch to activate every 10 seconds. Bonus points if you attach a bigger speaker.

    Then simply "decorate" the security bot. Your defaced security r2-d2 should now look something like this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dalek_2010_Redesign.jpg

    EXTERMINATE!