Khaleej Times

This robot knows if you’re good or bad

- Sarwat Nasir

dubai — A robot that can detect and report any suspicious people or activity through facial recognitio­n, X-ray scanning and thermal vision features will soon be deployed at Dubai airports.

Described as “one of the best” innovation­s by his team, Khalid Al Zarooni, innovation specialist at Dubai Custom’s Innovation Centre said the robot will mainly be placed at the arrivals section.

“What it does is it gathers data (using its) features and compiles it into a threat assessment. It then gives alerts to the control room.”

But when there is no threat to detect, the android dons a more customer-friendly approach by acting as a greeter to travellers at the airport. Dubai Customs has already carried out the pilot phase for the implementa­tion of the robot, so watch out next time you’re at the airport and be sure to be on your best behaviour.

sarwat@khaleejtim­es.com

dubai — a robot that can detect and report any suspicious people or activity will soon be deployed at dubai airports.

dubai customs has already carried out the pilot phase for the implementa­tion of the robot, which will mainly be placed at the arrival section of the airport.

khalid al zarooni, innovation specialist at dubai custom’s innovation centre, said that the robot could be “one of the best” innovation­s by his team.

“this is an android. it still hasn’t been implemente­d fully, but it has gone through a piloting phase around the airports,” he told khaleej times at the arab innovation forum. “it’s probably going to be our best innovation, when it gets implemente­d in full. the brain in the android has so many features and tools connected into it, such as facial recognitio­n, x-ray scanning and thermal vision. what it does is that it gathers data from these features and compiles it into a threat assessment and then it gives alerts to the control room.”

he said that when there is no threat for it to detect, it also acts as greeter to travellers at the airport.

dubai customs were displaying a total of 10 of their best innovation­s through a photo gallery at the forum.

another one of them included a smart vehicle for people with determinat­ion. the vehicle has been created to clear custom declara- tions and assist people with special needs. “it’s on call in cooperatio­n with internatio­nal airlines. they let us know who are special needs people. either we go to them or they call us and we take the car to them. there’s about three at the airports,” al zarooni said.

the mobile inspection vehicle by dubai customs was also being showcased through photos.

“it has a face detection scanner, which is linked to the interpol. so anyone who is wanted, it automatica­lly picks up their facial signature and informs the control room,” he said.

when asked if the face recognitio­n scanner has been successful in catching wanted people, al zarooni said: “you would be surprised who comes through dubai.”

sarwat@khaleejtim­es.com

 ??  ?? Smart suitcase and special robots with face recognitio­n ability will empower Dubai Customs to secure the country more.
Smart suitcase and special robots with face recognitio­n ability will empower Dubai Customs to secure the country more.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Arab Emirates