For the first time, robots are being used to patrol a stadium during the 2006 World Cup, although the public rarely has the opportunity to witness their work.
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| An OFRO robot on duty outside the stadium in Berlin. (Photo AP) |
The company Robowatch, based in Berlin, Germany, has developed two patrol robot models, with 11 units currently deployed to monitor the parking areas beneath the Olympic Stadium in Berlin and surrounding areas where the press, sponsors, and important guests are located.
Mr. Benjamin Stengl, a spokesperson for Robowatch, stated: “This is the first time patrol robots have been used at such a major sporting event. They do not arrest anyone. In fact, they do not have much work to do. Fortunately, this is an extremely safe World Cup.” Additionally, these robots will not replace security personnel but serve as a supplementary measure for patrolling.
The OFRO field robot, priced at approximately $76,000 and resembling a Mars rover, utilizes infrared cameras at night to detect intruders by body temperature. Similar to the robots used by the U.S. military in Iraq, the OFRO can do even more if equipped with sensors to detect radiation, toxins, viruses, or other chemical warfare agents.
Mr. Stengl added: “Those features are not used here, but we see this as an opportunity to gain experience, which will help us improve our technology. These robots will primarily be used in areas that are difficult to observe.”
These robots will receive navigational assistance from Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites and transmit images back to a central control room in the stadium. Through remote control, operators can instruct these robots to inspect anything suspicious.
The second robot model is the MOSRO, which resembles the R2-D2 robot from the film “Star Wars.” This machine costs around $15,000 and primarily uses cameras to detect intruders in the parking lot. It is also equipped with infrared and ultrasonic sensors.
Robowatch and B.E.S.T, the security company responsible for ensuring safety at the World Cup, are discussing the potential use of robots at other locations within the Olympic Stadium.
