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Brazil will use robots to police the 2014 World Cup

Giuseppe Macri Tech Editor
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Brazil is adopting the security of the future after securing a deal with a robot manufacturer to deploy robots programmed to police the 2014 FIFA World Cup games.

The Brazilian government has agreed to pay $7.2 million to Massachusetts-based iRobot for 30 of its PackBot robots, according to a Robohub report. The robots will be programmed to analyze suspicious-looking objects in 12 cities hosting World Cup match-ups across Brazil beginning in June.

PackBots can travel at speeds up to 9 mph and have an extremely versatile mobility system, able to traverse rough terrain and even stairs. iRobot’s models include a host of sensors including GPS, video, thermal detection, electronic compass and system diagnostics. The robots weigh about 40 pounds and can be folded to fit into a backpack, making them ideal for quick deployment.

The model is exceptionally durable, able to survive a hard fall onto concrete from two meters, and has a full 360-degree range of rotation.

The same robots were recently used to assess the Japanese Fukushima Nuclear power plant meltdown resulting from the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami. More than 800 have been used in Iraq and Afghanistan war zones, among other countries, since 2007.

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