Robot joins Gulf County sheriff’s office
It’s not quite a deputy, in fact it’s not even human, but it still will be moving right along with other personnel at the Gulf County Sheriff’s Office,
It’s a Remotec Andros Robot and thanks to government contractors at Robotic Logistics Support Center in Bay County, it’s the newest addition to the Gulf County force.
Originally sold the robot under a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense, once it reached the end of its life with DOD, the company refurbished it and donated it to the sheriff’s office, along with maintenance and parts also at no cost.
The robot is equipped with a microphone, speaker, and cameras, as well as wireless antennas that enable remote operation. A 360-degree video camera enables the operator to see the entire panorama where the robot is going.
“This is a great tool that’s going to provide an additional set of eyes and ears on scene, equipped with multiple cameras and microphones, and off-road capabilities,” said Sheriff Mike Harrison. “We will also be using the robot in classroom demonstrations and other community events.”
Deputies intend to deploy the robot into unfamiliar areas, to scope it out before entering themselves, avoiding possible life-threatening situations.
“This is an avenue of not putting that officer in danger and deploying this to see what may be in an area or in a building or in a vehicle that allows us to move up closer to that place to see what’s taking place,” said Gulf County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Chris Buchanan said.
The robot’s arm can pick things up and rearrange them, reaching positions that officers can’t get to.
“A robotic arm that allows us to be able to mess with an item, to be able to open it or move it. And it’s not anything that a human being would have to do themselves,” Buchanan said.
Media partner WMBB contributed to this story.
Meet the Editor
David Adlerstein, The Apalachicola Times’ digital editor, started with the news outlet in January 2002 as a reporter.
Prior to then, David Adlerstein began as a newspaperman with a small Boston weekly, after graduating magna cum laude from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He later edited the weekly Bellville Times, and as business reporter for the daily Marion Star, both not far from his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
In 1995, he moved to South Florida, and worked as a business reporter and editor of Medical Business newspaper. In Jan. 2002, he began with the Apalachicola Times, first as reporter and later as editor, and in Oct. 2020, also began editing the Port St. Joe Star.