Child-friendly robot to assist UAQ police in solving crimes
umm al quwain — The Umm Al Quwain (UAQ) Police, in collaboration with Smart UAQ, will soon start using a special robot in probing crimes that involve children.
The project, the first of its kind in the world, is based on a number of international studies that prove robots’ fun way of interacting with children allow it to gather necessary information better than an investigating officer, said Khalid Al Shamsi, director-general of Smart UAQ.
Named Robotalk, the robot has a baby face that looks familiar and attractive to children; it is fixed with an iPad where kids can play games; and it can move in all directions to get closer to them, said Major Marwan Rashid, head of organised crime section at the CID department, UAQ Police.
“It can identify the people it has already met; recognise facial expressions, and read the investigating officer’s questions for the child via an iPad,” Rashid added.
As part of a case’s investigation, an officer will enter the child’s data into the Robotalk control system. “All possible answers from the child can be entered as well, with a precise determination of the sensitivity of each and every answer,” he said.
Aside from taking note of their answers, Robotalk also records facial expressions. “The system records all the steps and procedures done, giving the officer full control over its movement,” Rashid said.