In the city of Pohang, South Korea, three robotic wardens are put into charge to monitor the abnormal activities of inmates. Three machines will be patrolling inside the walls of Pohang prison to reduce the workload on the jail guards’ shoulders.
The three 5ft-high (1.5m) robots involved in the prison trial have been developed by the Asian Forum for Corrections, a South Korean group of researchers who specialize in criminality and prison policies.
The maker said the robots have four wheels to walk on, and the sensors, cameras to track the suspicions behaviors like suicide and other type of violence.
Prof Lee Baik-Chu, of Kyonggi University, who led the design process, said “As we’re almost done with creating its key operating system, we are now working on refining its details to make it look more friendly to inmates”.
The one-month trial will cost 1bn won (£554,000) and is being sponsored by the South Korean government.
South Korea’s robotics’ industry is flourishing with every day passing and it is the latest in a series of investments made by the state to develop its robotics industry.