British border guards recruit robots to root out stowaways
By Donald Melanson 
posted Jul 22nd 2008 4:28PM
posted Jul 22nd 2008 4:28PM
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]
[Via Danger Room, image courtesy of BAE Systems]
no es bueno
Ole Britian has a border problem o.0?
I wonder if they can attach lasers to them.....
they should mount a mini gun on top to make them more menacing
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 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
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.
I didn't realise Ricochet RC cars came with search lights and high-resolution cameras built in.
I guess your parents didn't spring for the Special Edition Ricochet come Christmas time. It was a sweet ride.
Samboini thinks this is no laughing matter.
The orphanage couldn't afford it.
Hereby Nominated to the "Best Comment Thread" category of the Webbies.
Seconds?
It's good they are doing such a good job protecting all those roadways into Great Britain...
Keep the Scots and the Welsh from seeking in and doing the jobs English wont do?
It's for the ports
Vroom. Vroom.
Crunch!
Perhaps the army should be the first customers...
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/afp/20080717/tuk-britain-military-immigration-illegal-a7ad41d.html
Looks like they have a contract with pro-line with those Wabash wheels and Dirt Hawgs tires.
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!
Mexicants beware...
or in this case gypsies beware
Sorry but that is nothing more than a tyco rebound 4x4..
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?
Err, sorry mate! Should not have your bloody expensive robot under my wheels like that... Its pretty flat now...
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?
Yeah, Wales.
@ 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
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.
I can see you tried to make a funny!
this IS the inspection for cars and trucks getting on boats and the channel tunnel
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
@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...
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!
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)
What border?
They're a little island.
Yeah, a tiny island and arguably one of the most powerful countries in the world.
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/
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!
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.
those damn cyphers, solid snake will be dissapointed
"...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.
Didn't they use those in the Runaway movie with Gene Simmons and Tom Selleck?
Thanks for playing, come again.
why bother with robots? Immigration control in the UK is so lax you don't really need to sneak in.
Ooh, controversial.
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....
I hear they don't fancy black people in NZ
Go, little guy, go!