British border guards recruit robots to root out stowaways

It looks like attempts to sneak across the border into Britain could soon become a battle of humans versus the machines, as the country's border guards have now recruited some robots normally used in warzones to help root out folks trying to smuggle themselves into the country. Developed by BAE Systems, the so-called "Hero" bots are equipped with searchlights and high-resolution video cameras that let it search the inside and undersides of vehicles, and they could potentially be outfitted with heartbeat detectors as well, or even sensors to detect chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear materials being smuggled into the country. While it's apparently only been tested in one location so far, the Border Agency seems to be all but sold on the bot, and it's now looking at rolling 'em out to other locations in the country. No word if they have any plans to employ BAE's spider bots, though.

[Via Danger Room, image courtesy of BAE Systems]

[master_sword @ Jul 22nd 2008 4:36PM]

they should mount a mini gun on top to make them more menacing

[Josh @ Jul 23rd 2008 11:28AM]

Some new developments in the robot field is to make them have emotional bonding and different personalities ( http://www.internetevolution.com/author.asp?section_id=526&doc_id=155718&f_src=flffour ).

Maybe they'll feel bad for some of the immigrants and let them pass.

[crocodyl @ Jul 30th 2008 5:21PM]

Crocodyl has a great company profile on BAE Systems that shows some of the hipocracies of the company, including its "Green Munitions" campaign.

http://www.crocodyl.org/wiki/bae_systems_plc

[Tom @ Jul 22nd 2008 4:37PM]

I guess BAE is all "money is erupting from my pockets" rich because they took all the R&D money and just bought a couple Ricochet RC cars off of eBay.

[Samboini @ Jul 22nd 2008 4:58PM]

I didn't realise Ricochet RC cars came with search lights and high-resolution cameras built in.

[Tom @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:00PM]

I guess your parents didn't spring for the Special Edition Ricochet come Christmas time. It was a sweet ride.

[The 3rd Hot Dog @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:02PM]

Samboini thinks this is no laughing matter.

[Samboini @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:08PM]

The orphanage couldn't afford it.

[Tim @ Jul 23rd 2008 12:01AM]

Hereby Nominated to the "Best Comment Thread" category of the Webbies.
Seconds?

[ben povlich @ Jul 22nd 2008 4:39PM]

It's good they are doing such a good job protecting all those roadways into Great Britain...

[fred @ Jul 22nd 2008 4:59PM]

Keep the Scots and the Welsh from seeking in and doing the jobs English wont do?

[anthonykuske @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:07PM]

It's for the ports

[BigD145 @ Jul 22nd 2008 7:14PM]

Vroom. Vroom.

Crunch!

[LondonConsultant @ Jul 22nd 2008 4:40PM]

Perhaps the army should be the first customers...

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/afp/20080717/tuk-britain-military-immigration-illegal-a7ad41d.html

[elere @ Jul 22nd 2008 4:40PM]

no es bueno

[DefPo3t @ Jul 22nd 2008 4:50PM]

Ole Britian has a border problem o.0?

[John H. @ Jul 22nd 2008 4:44PM]

hey, it looks like one of those r/c cars that they used to always try to sell that could drive even when it flipped!

[Peter @ Jul 22nd 2008 4:44PM]

Looks like they have a contract with pro-line with those Wabash wheels and Dirt Hawgs tires.

[Nitefreak @ Jul 22nd 2008 4:46PM]

Mexicants beware...

or in this case gypsies beware

[Philip @ Jul 22nd 2008 4:56PM]

Sorry but that is nothing more than a tyco rebound 4x4..

[Macro @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:06PM]

I have one of those! Controller broke though but anyway, why don't they use thermal vision too wouldn't that be able to see through?

[JohnPombrio @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:01PM]

Err, sorry mate! Should not have your bloody expensive robot under my wheels like that... Its pretty flat now...

[kjb434 @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:02PM]

What border? Outside of the border between the British holding of North Ireland and Ireland, Britain doesn't have a border.

All the cars taking the Chunnel train (Eurostar) get some inspection. I'm hoping cars taking hovercrafts get the same look over. Is there some mysterious other country touching Britain that I can't see on a map?

[hamish @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:08PM]

Yeah, Wales.

[Cam @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:09PM]

@ kjb434

The vast majority of illegal asylum seekers enter the UK in the back of trucks from all the ports and the Chunnel too.

Big fines for any truckers caught with them even though the vast majority don't know they're there

[kjb434 @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:14PM]

Isn't Wales part of Britain? I know it's not England, but i thought i was part of Britain like Northern Ireland and to some extent Scotland.

[Itsuru @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:38PM]

I can see you tried to make a funny!

[Anthony @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:09PM]

this IS the inspection for cars and trucks getting on boats and the channel tunnel

[Alex Kirby @ Jul 22nd 2008 7:25PM]

Exactly what I was thinking. The borders with Wales and Scotlad have never been checked, you hardly realise you are changing country. The only semi-border is the Eurostar with France

[Cactus @ Jul 22nd 2008 8:21PM]

@hamish: Wales is very much a part of Britain.

@kjb434: Besides Northern Ireland, you also have the Gibraltar land border.

The ferries altogether carry far more cars and trucks than the Chunnel... and the inspection you get as you board those boats is no more than those on Washington State/British Columbia ferries. Would you suggest removing the border controls in Port Angeles, WA?

I can think of one man currently serving life at Supermax that would agree with you...

[Richy @ Jul 23rd 2008 4:24AM]

Sitting in pedants corner here, I'd like to point out that Northern Ireland isn't actually part of Britain (or Great Britain, to give it its full name) -- hence people often talk of Great Britain & Northern Ireland when talking about the 'home' nations. The United Kingdom (I am lead to believe) does include N Ireland...

All very confusing!

[Justin B @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:23PM]

As a BAE employee, I'm proud to see we are serving a purpose.

(You know, keeping those illegals out and not the Bradley's protecting our troops)

[xsecret @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:34PM]

I wonder if they can attach lasers to them.....

[Camper @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:43PM]

What border?

They're a little island.

[Samboini @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:04PM]

Yeah, a tiny island and arguably one of the most powerful countries in the world.

[Maeztro @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:56PM]

Britain has a border? What next? Dominos Pizza via text? http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/17/dominos-now-accepting-pizza-orders-via-sms-in-the-uk/

[Jon Doe. @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:58PM]

Wait, wait, wait. I think people are missing the bigger story here. There are people trying to break INTO Britain? I mean this is the land of TV licenses, government surveillance every 15 feet, and I'd rather not think of the speeding laws there. ;-)

PS- Yah the US is no rose garden either. Hell if we could classify as cesspool I think it would be a step up.

PPS- Of course there are a few British stouts that....*drools* That's it! They are breaking in for the booze!

[Samboini @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:06PM]

We have free healthcare though and reward all these shit's for sitting on their fucking arses and squeezing out yet more crime inducing kids. It pisses me off no end. I'm happy for anyone to come over providing they contribute, those that don't should be conscripted.

[andres @ Jul 22nd 2008 8:56PM]

those damn cyphers, solid snake will be dissapointed

[Mr. H @ Jul 22nd 2008 10:05PM]

"...the Border Agency seems to be all but sold on the bot, and it's now looking at rolling 'em out to other locations in the country."

All but sold? They're already using them, and have plans to use them in other parts of the country already. Unless they're getting them as donations, and are in the process of considering to pay for them, I'd say they're more than "all but sold", and actually sold.

[Jason @ Jul 23rd 2008 12:45AM]

Didn't they use those in the Runaway movie with Gene Simmons and Tom Selleck?

[Dan @ Jul 23rd 2008 10:02AM]

Thanks for playing, come again.

[arkweld @ Jul 23rd 2008 2:00AM]

why bother with robots? Immigration control in the UK is so lax you don't really need to sneak in.

Ooh, controversial.

[Richy @ Jul 23rd 2008 4:34AM]

And don't know why anybody would want to come here anyway, it's shit.

Returns to Internet, looking at massive houses in Auckland NZ for half the price of my SW London flat. Grrrr....

[neofolklore @ Jul 23rd 2008 8:03AM]

I hear they don't fancy black people in NZ

[iHoppipolla @ Jul 23rd 2008 8:08AM]

Go, little guy, go!