NCJ Number
200168
Date Published
November 2000
Length
58 pages
Annotation
This report presents the results from two surveys designed to determine law enforcement agencies' needs for robots other than in the area of explosive ordinance disposal (EOD), as well as the status of robotics research and development activities.
Abstract
In the field of law enforcement, mobile robotics has been mostly used in the area of EOD, where robots are used to keep the human bomb disposal experts out of harm's way. In order to determine law enforcement needs for non-EOD robots, a Web-based survey was conducted over a period of 8 weeks. It was publicized by e-mail to over 200 State and local law enforcement agencies. The survey addressed scenarios and tasks in which a robot would be used if available. Information was also solicited on the tools, features, and parameters deemed most important for performing those tasks. The survey also queried respondents on their experiences with currently available robots. This survey found that respondents emphasized having robots perform the functions of small-item delivery, passive remote communication, and remote surveillance. Features of a robot that were considered most important included stair-climbing ability, a robust communication link, low cost, and longer battery life. To identify U.S. Department of Defense robotics technologies that could contribute to the development of law enforcement robots, a survey was conducted that involved face-to-face, telephone, and e-mail interviews with personnel from the Unmanned Ground Vehicles/Systems Joint Project Office and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Based on leads from these funding and program-management agencies, various Defense Department robotics research and development programs and their contractors were contacted for information on their work. Most of the robotic needs mentioned in the law-enforcement-agency survey are being addressed in the Defense Department activities surveyed. Solutions for other law enforcement requirements can be found in the commercial sector or are being sought by the scientific community for applications outside robotics. This report concludes that there is no single robot that could meet all the demands of law enforcement beyond EOD work. It recommends the development of two classes of robots distinguished by size. Each robot should be modular, with application-specific mission packages or tool sets that can be tailored to the needs of a particular user. This report outlines a proven, user-centric, phased, rapid-prototyping approach for a successful robotics development program. This report further recommends that the U.S. Justice Department's National Institute of Justice (NIJ) continue to maintain close liaison with DARPA and the Joint Robotics Program and obtain input from this program on technology assessment, source selection, and the development of robotics assets. 43 figures, 1 table, 20 references, and appended law-enforcement questionnaire and tabulated results of the law enforcement survey