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Secom Robot X Security Guard Works For Less
The Secom Robot X security guard, which can be controlled remotely or pre-programmed, will not be sold to customers. Secom supplies human security guards in Tokyo; it will supply the Secom Robot X for about 300,000 yen per month ($2,700), about half of the cost of hiring a human security guard to do the same job.
(From PC Watch Japan)
Although Robot X is no RoboCop, it is three feet high and weighs in at about 260 pounds. It will run down intruders at up to 6 miles per hour (okay, it will walk them down). Robot X can relay live spoken warnings (when controlled remotely), or will offer pre-recorded messages; it also takes high-definition pictures. Faced with opposition, Robot X will release a cloud of smoke to scare them off.
(From PC Watch Japan)
The composition of the smoke has not been revealed, but is non-toxic.
Robocop was, of course, a big and scary cyborg guy from a well-known sf movie of the 80's. At the other end of the scale, you find the tiny robot detectives (dustmice) from Greg Bear's 1990 novel Queen of Angels. (Update 19-Nov-2006: See also the Robot Probes (Arr-twos) from Niven and Pournelle's 1981 novel Oath of Fealty.)
Update 05-Jul-2008: See this early reference to a guard robot in Philip K. Dick's 1955 short story The Hood Maker (also found under the name Immunity). End update
See Robot guard will smoke out villains for more.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 8/27/2004)
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