Singapore is in the midst of a three-week trial for a pair of autonomous robots that patrol the public for "undesirable social behaviors" that include smoking in prohibited areas and violating COVID-19 gathering regulations. The pair of robots, known as Xavier, are equipped with cameras that can provide 360-degree footage and sensors that allow them to navigate in public and analyze potential public safety violations. According to a press release from the Home Team Science and Technology Agency, if Xavier detects an undesirable behavior, it will alert a public officer control center and officers can respond in person or remotely via the robot's interactive dashboard. Five Singaporean government agencies are involved in the testing of Xavier. "The deployment of ground robots will help to augment our surveillance and enforcement resources," said Lilly Ling, the Singapore Food Agency's East Regional Office Director, in a press release.

When a fight broke out recently in the parking lot of Salt Lake Park, a few miles south of downtown Los Angeles, Cogo Guebara did what seemed the most practical thing at the time: she ran over to the park's police robot to push its emergency alert button. "I was pushing the button but it said, 'step out of the way,'" Guebara said. "It just kept ringing and ringing, and I kept pushing and pushing." She thought maybe the robot, which stands about 5 feet tall and has "POLICE" emblazoned on its egg-shaped body, wanted a visual of her face, so she crouched down for the camera. Without a response, Rudy Espericuta, who was with Guebara and her children at the time, dialed 911.

Give us your feedback, and we'll help you learn more about where and how police security robots are being used This summer, the police department in Huntington Park, California debuted the newest member of its squad: A 400 pound autonomous robot developed by Knightscope Inc. The sleek "RoboCop" has gotten a fair amount of attention for its patrols of the local park, including a featured segment on NBC's "Today" show. MuckRock's JPat Brown, submitted a California Public Records Act request for materials related to the robot's use and, through a release earlier this month, found that the machine was equipped with the ability to scan and store license plate information and video footage, which it can then "analyze" for bystanders and potential criminals. MuckRock wants your help in learning more about how these machines are being used and acquired. The roving robot security guard has found employment with private companies, malls, casinos, and airports, but the use by official law enforcement is still in its earlier stages.