21st CENTURY ROVER

A remote-controlled large sphere, designed to replace traditional security guards, chasing offenders at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour. Sound familiar? Indeed it does, but it is not the Village guardian "Rover" that is being described.

It is, in fact, a new prototype robot-ball (pictured left), currently in development at Swedish technology company Rotundus. Its purpose is to patrol factories and warehouses, with the long-term aim of utilising the robots in space, similar to NASA's "tumbleweed" Mars machines. The new devices will be equipped with cameras, microphones, heat sensors, and gas and smoke detectors.

One of the amazing aspects of The Prisoner was its ability to predict future trends, such as credit cards and cordless telephones. Did McGoohan get it spot on with Rover as well? For more info, including videos of the ball in action, click HERE. To read an article on the device, click HERE.

Thanks to Richard Fleury, Henry Baker, David K Smith, Robert Goshawk, Ken Davidson, and MCR for the info.

News Announced 14/2/2005, Archived 18/4/2005

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