Bengaluru police have been taking many steps to solve the problem of the world’s worst traffic congestion and more often than not, they turn towards computer vision and AI to find solutions. From starting to use TikTok for more engagement with the people to installing AI-enabled traffic signals to calculate the traffic congestion, the Bengaluru police, as they rigorously search for a solution for traffic congestion paradigm, is now working towards leveraging AI capabilities to catch offenders; Bengaluru traffic police are equipping facial recognition-based cameras in mannequins.
The Peeking Mannequins
If you commute in Bengaluru, you must have observed (albeit scared when they see) traffic police uniform-wearing-mannequins near the traffic signals, Bengaluru police are now planning to install AI-enabled cameras in these mannequins.
Bengaluru already had cameras on traffic signals, and now traffic police are enhancing its capabilities by placing mannequins, which are equipped with facial recognition systems. Besides, these facial recognition cameras will be well connected through traffic police central server.
What’s more interesting is that you won’t be spotting these mannequins only on the traffic signals, the Bengaluru police intend to put these in random positions throughout the city. So, you can expect to be stalked by these mannequins as you cruise throughout the city.
The facial recognition software will spot the offenders and report to the police about the offender’s location. For example, if a commuter is found to violate some traffic rules on the silk-board traffic signal (possibly the busiest one), then, the AI-enabled mannequin can spot the offender from a considerable distance. It will be able to send the details regarding the offender’s location and direction of travel to the control room. The control room will then inform authorities in that area. This will be most beneficial when it comes to identifying and searching for offenders in severe cases like hit and run, drunk driving or unfortunate car accidents.
Not only will these mannequins be able to circulate the information, but will also provide details about the traffic slips against the offender’s vehicle. The dummy will estimate the amount of the violation caused by the offender, all with the help of facial recognition.
Implementation of these mannequins, as the police commissioner Bhasker Rao believes, will serve as the perfect substitution for the police constables who could be directed towards better work and improve the workforce of the police department.
From Other Countries
The American and French police departments have also taken an interest in this innovative idea. In an interview with a news publication, Bhasker Rao said that the international police departments visited Bengaluru to study this technology.
The American police system has always been interested in leveraging the power of AI in their system; they have implemented drones and facial recognition across their departments to track people and offenders. As for the French police system, they also use drones and leverage AI abilities for functions like traffic forecasting and traffic monitoring, whereas China has deployed its police bots, which patrol, advise on traffic and give out accident warnings 24/7 in the country.
Outlook
There are several other countries, which are adopting AI to solve their traffic-related problems. India’s new idea of the Bengaluru police-uniform-wearing-mannequins to help with the traffic rule offenders can take some queues from China’s bots. The Commissioner also said that they are working towards taking the technology to the next level by trying to integrate robotics in the system. If Bengaluru police and eventually, all the Indian traffic policing system moves towards adopting robotics, we might be able to bring down the number of traffic-related accidents and violations to zero.
