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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.'"

5 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. 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"
  3. 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.

  4. 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!