"They feel no anger. They feel no prejudice. They feel no fatigue, which makes them ideal for law enforcement. Putting these machines on the streets will save countless American lives." – "Robocop," 2014

In the movie "Robocop," the year is 2028, and police officer Alex Murphy is critically injured in the line of duty. Scientists decide to "rebuild" Murphy into a cyborg police officer — part-man, part-robot.

When the original "Robocop" came out in 1987, robots were merely a far-fetched futuristic concept of "The Jetsons." It was fiction. It was fun. By the time the rebooted "Robocop" movie was released in 2014, robots were real. They aren't taking over the world — just yet — but they are here. They perform many different tasks, and they come in many different shapes, sizes and colors.

Across the U.S., law enforcement agencies are beginning to use robotic technology in threatening situations, and they may soon perform many of the regular duties of a police officer.

Robots assess bomb threats

On June 13, the Dallas Police Department came under attack by James Boulware, who stated his anger stemmed from a recent custody battle. The assault started at Dallas Police Department headquarters and then ended about 10 miles away in the parking lot of a Jack in the Box.

Besides a large amount of gunfire, there were also explosives, specifically pipe bombs. One pipe bomb was located right outside Dallas PD headquarters. During the search, one officer almost knocked it over — lucky for him, he didn't.

Instead, an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) robot was sent in to assess the bomb. As soon as the robot attempted to move the bomb, it detonated. Had it been an officer, he or she would not have survived.

That was not the only role robots played in this hostile situation. After officials confirmed a police sniper had killed the attacker, they were still in danger from the explosives Boulware stated he had in the armored van with him. Once again, robots were sent in to assess the situation and determine what explosives and weaponry Boulware actually had in the van.

In the end, the armored van was successfully destroyed. Miraculously, there was not a single fatality or injury to officers or civilians. Without the use of robotic technology, that might not have been the case.

Robots serve as communication tool

Another useful purpose that robots serve is a communication tool. In Rock Hill, North Carolina, Bernard McCree, Sr. barricaded himself into his home armed with a shotgun, according to WCNC-TV. He also had hostages inside.

During this hostage situation, Rock Hill Police decided to use one of the department's robots. The purpose of this robot was to allow for communication between McCree and the police outside. Once the robot was inside, the police were able to negotiate and the situation was resolved without any injuries — thanks in large part to the use of robotic technology.

Robots in the making

Scientists and engineers are taking robotic technology for law enforcement to the next level with new robots:

Telebot

According to an article on The Free Thought Project, Florida International University is developing and testing a 6-foot-tall robot that can patrol the streets and hand out tickets. "With a swiveling head and dexterous fingers, the humanoid robot is controlled remotely by a person wearing an Oculus Rift headset and motion-tracking vest, arm bands and gloves," the articles states.

This type of robotic technology not only keeps officers out of harm's way, but it also allows for disabled officers and veterans to continue working.

Knightscope K5

Unlike the Telebot, the Knightscope K5 is fully autonomous and is meant to survey and assess — not patrol and enforce. The Knightscope K5 is a "total surveillance machine," according to The Free Thought Project. "It has facial recognition and scans 1,500 license plates per minute, captures audio and 360-degree video, tests the air for chemicals, and maps its surroundings with 3-D radar and laser. It can learn to distinguish ‘suspicious activities’ from normal activities."

Opposition to robots in law enforcement

The ability for robots to save lives in the law enforcement industry is apparent, but there are also consequences. Many people are fearful of arming a robot. Who is to blame for an error? The robot? There are many unknowns, and many people are not willing to take the risk of a robot making a fatal, disastrous "decision."

"A machine does not know what it feels like to be human. It can't understand the value of human life. Why should it be allowed to take one? To legislate over life and death, we need people who understand right from wrong." – "Robocop," 2014

Purchasing your first robot

When your police department is ready to purchase your first tactical robot, Robotex suggests asking yourself four questions, according to an article on PoliceOne.com. These four questions will help you find the most useful robot that can complete a wide variety of tasks in most situations:

• Does it provide two-way voice capabilities?
• Does it have near-real-time video capabilities?
• Can it handle various types of terrain?
• Does it take long to deploy?

Law enforcement is quickly changing and adapting to technology. Robotic technology is slowly creeping in to the everyday lives of officers. However, we still don't have robots patrolling all of our major cities.

But, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, they are. According to an article on The Guardian, the roads Kinshasa are monitored by five solar-powered aluminum robots. The robots are equipped with red and green lights that regulate traffic flow, and they also contain cameras that send images to police stations to alert them of any issues. Not only do these robots serve a useful purpose, but the motorists and civilians of Kinshasa also approve of their use.

It's clear robotic technology has a significant future in the law enforcement industry. Are you ready to purchase the first robot for your department?