When terrorists are taking their terror games to new levels of sophistication, the Mumbai Police is seeing to it that they don't lag behind. They are set to fight terror with advanced techniques as well. Our police team is planning to soon have robots working for them.

 

These robots in uniform would aid in all kinds of activities, including handling of improvised explosive devices, hazardous chemicals, and radioactive materials. They would also defuse bombs and assist our police squad during hijackings and hostage situations.

 

The robots will be able to move swiftly and will be able to turn on their own axis. They would have human-like claws that would be able to open, close, as well as rotate. The battery-operated robots would have a wireless operated two-way communication system.

 

What's more? In addition to these features, the Mumbai Police wants the robots to be equipped with a minimum of five cameras per robot. Four colour cameras with halogen lights and the fifth to be used to operate the robot during the night time and in poor visibility conditions.

 

Above all, the police department wants these robots to be "simple" and user friendly.

 

These new additions to our Police team may turn out to be pretty fascinating. However, a fact that stands out like a sore thumb is that the Mumbai Police has been planning to induct robots into its force for years now. The latest tender issued by them is valid upto June 24, 2009.

 

The question arising here is that since the tender has been issued a few years ago, why has it not materialized yet? Vijaysingh Jadhav, Dy.Commissioner of Police (H.Q.-I), said that the reason for the delay is the lack of funds available at a stretch, which leads to the work being done in phases.

 

There have been plans to induct robots into the Mumbai Police team for many years now. Reports also claim that a robot costing Rs 1.20 crore was acquired by Mumbai Police in 1990 but was not put to use due to some technical defects.

 

Vijaysingh Jadhav, Dy.Commissioner of Police (H.Q.-I), told Techtree that he was not very clear on when the plan will actually materialize. The reason he gave for this delay was the availability of funds in phases, leading to breaks in implementation. Jadhav was not aware of the fact that a robot was bought by the Mumbai Police in 1990.

 

All we can say is that the Mumbai Police should learn a few lessons from the recent terror attacks that shook Mumbai and be a bit quicker in implementing its plan of inducting robots into its workforce.