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"Every scientist worth his salt that I know of has read science fiction."
- Greg Bear

Undercover Detective Robot  
  Specialized robot masquerades as different robot types to spy on criminals.  

Undercover work can be tedious - and dangerous. Why not use robots?

"The name is Wil Counter-4951L3, not that that means much any more. I've worn so many different bodies that I forget what I originally looked like. I went right from factory-school to a police training school - and I have been on the job ever since - Force of Detectives, Sergeant Jr. grade, Investigation department. I spend most of my time selling candy bars or newspapers, or serving drinks in crumb joints. Gather information, make reports and keep tabs on guys for other departments..."
Technovelgy from The Velvet Glove, by Harry Harrison.
Published by Fantastic Universe in 1956
Additional resources -

Compare to R. Daneel Olivaw, robot policeman from Caves of Steel (1953) by Isaac Asimov, the precogs from The Minority Report (1956) by Philip K. Dick, the Pry-Vie robotic detective from Clans of the Alphane Moon (1964) by Philip K. Dick and Sven, the artificially intelligent detective from The Turing Option (1992) by Harry Harrison.

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Additional resources:
  More Ideas and Technology from The Velvet Glove
  More Ideas and Technology by Harry Harrison
  Tech news articles related to The Velvet Glove
  Tech news articles related to works by Harry Harrison

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