The next time you go jogging you might be reminded by R2D2 to stay at home.
No, like really.
Those who went jogging at Bedok reservoir got scolded by the robot O-R3 to stay home and practice social distancing measures.
Ok fine, it’s not entirely the same. But, close enough right?
It might have been amusing for a robot to start scolding in Singlish “Oi! Ciao cheese pie! Why still staying outside? Want get corona and die is it?!”
Reality is a bit more disappointing as the robot’s voice is in an ang moh accent, and it was gentler in scolding people:
“To curb the spread of COVID-19, gatherings at this park are not allowed. Please practice safe distancing at all times and do not loiter at this park. Stay safe, stay home.”
What wasted potential.
If you look at the robot from the back, you can even see the robot silently judging you for choosing to go outside, giving the -_- face.
Oh, by the way, the robots can’t scold you in Singlish, but they can do that in a total of four languages. (We don’t know if the other three languages are ang moh-accented.)
Originally Used For Surveillance at PUB’s Plants and Reservoirs
You may be wondering how the gahmen managed to build a robot specifically for this purpose so fast. Well, they didn’t.
They originally wanted to use it for surveillance, and the robots were already on trial since last year May, but now they’re using it as “safe distancing ambassadors”. The robots had been deployed at Bedok reservoir by PUB since 23 April 2020.
Similar robots will be deployed at Pandan MacRitchie Reservoirs later.
Has 360-degree Camera, Sensors, And Video Recording
And if you’re thinking that the robot has an ang moh accent because it’s built by ang mohs, you’re wrong. It’s actually built by Singapore robotic manufacturer Otsaw.
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The robot is known to have 360-degree camera, sensors and the ability to record video footage.
Die-die-must-go-out-kia: Oh shit, does that mean I will get fined by the robot.
No, even worse. They will send drones after you.
OK. I’m just kidding.
According to TODAYonline and The Straits Times, PUB will not use O-R3 for enforcement.
All I’m saying is, according to the Otsaw website, OR-3 was originally designed as an “Autonomous security robot” and has “AI to prevent crime”.
I’m beginning to see a pattern here that I’m not so sure if I like.
(Just so that POFMA wouldn’t catch me: let me clarify that, to public knowledge, O-R3 doesn’t have any violent capabilities. Only lots of surveillance capabilities.)