New York City police unveiled three high-tech tools, including a robot dog that scared some people away when it was first put on display two and a half years ago.
The new devices, including a GPS to locate stolen cars and a cone-shaped security robot, will be deployed in a manner “transparent, consistent and always in close collaboration with the people we serve,” Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said Tuesday. , who joined Mayor Eric Adams and other officials at a news conference in Times Square to introduce the conical robot and mechanical canine nicknamed “digidog.”
“The digidog is out of the pound,” said Adams, a Democrat and former police officer. “The digidog will be from now on one of the tools we will use.”
The robot dog was initially exhibited by former mayor Bill de Blasio, but the city’s contract for its use was canceled after critics called it creepy and dystopian.
Adams asserted that he will not give in to criticism.
“A few protesters expressed their discontent and we backed down,” the mayor declared. “I don’t operate like that. I operate taking into account what is best for the city”.
Adams said the digidog, which weighs about 70 pounds (32 kilograms) and is operated by remote control, will be used in risky situations such as hostage-taking and confrontations with police, starting this summer.
“If there is a person entrenched inside a building and they are armed, instead of sending police officers there, we can send the digidog,” said the mayor. “It’s a smart way to use good technologies.”
The tracking system called StarChase will allow police to launch a GPS device that will be attached to a stolen car so that officers can track the vehicle. The device’s trial period will be 90 days, officials said.
The Autonomous Security Robot, which Adams compared to a Roomba robot vacuum cleaner, will be deployed at the Times Square subway station as part of a seven-month pilot program beginning this summer, police said.
