Smart patrol car for Police in the works

The Police yesterday unveiled the latest addition to its arsenal - a new and improved patrol car.

Developed from designs submitted by officers, the Honda prototype was displayed at yesterday's police workplan seminar.

Named the Next Generation Fast Response Car (Next-Gen FRC), the patrol car will include an automated number plate recognition system (ANPR).


Strategically mounted on the roof of the car are four cameras that will help officers screen the number plates of vehicles suspected of being stolen or driven by criminals.

The FRC will display electronic parking signs such as "Police on duty", replacing the current physical signs used.

Officers and persons-in-custody (PIC) will be separated by a partition made of plastic which features a plexi-glass window. The partition will protect escorting officers from kicks, assaults and other violent behavior from PICs.

The rear seats will be made of plastic, similar to those in MRT trains, to prevent PICs from concealing contraband items.

PICs will also have a new type of seat belt which will be buckled from right to left instead, making it easier and safer for officers to strap in the PIC.

The Straits Times reported that in an attempt to ensure that suspects do not escape from the car, its rear doors will not have any door handles on the inside.

Here's the full list of features of the Next-Gen FRC:

Exterior Features

1. Automated Number Plate Recognition System (ANPR)

Mounted on the roof of the car, four cameras will simultaneously scan surroundings from the front, and both sides of the car. With the system, the tedious and menial task of screening license plates can now be fully automated with much greater fidelity and efficiency.

2. LED barlights

The barlight will also be improved, featuring a prism reflective LED unit that is capable of incredibly bright light output.

3. Real-time streaming of footage from FRC

A front camera is mounted next to the rear mirror to enable real-time streaming of footage from the FRC to the Division Operations Room.

4. Display of electronic parking signs

An electronic parking sign is mounted on the dashboard, and displays messages such as "Police on duty". This will replace the physical sign that is being used currently.

Interior Features

1. Partition between officers and PICs

The front half of the car is separated from the rear by this partition, which is to protect the escorting officers from kicks, assaults and other violent behavior from PICs. The partition is a robust physical barrier, with a plexi-glass window that ensures the PIC is always visible to the escorting officers.

2. Plastic rear seats

To further increase the safety of escorting officers, the rear seats have also been modified to rigid plastic seats similar to those found in MRT trains. This is to prevent the PIC from concealing any objects in the cushions of the seats.

3. New type of seat belts for PICs

The seat belts have also been changed to buckle from right to left instead, making it easier and safer for officers to strap in the PIC.

4. Ergonomic friendly car seats for officers

The seat has been carved in at the waist. This is to accommodate the considerable size of the utility belt, allowing officers to maintain a proper and comfortable posture when driving.

5. Hands-free communication for officers

The Mobile Data Terminal (MDT) has also been updated to incorporate the new capabilities of the FRC, such as video streaming. A push-to-talk button has been installed to enhance the ease of communication between the FRC and Division Operations Room.

6. Optimising storage space in the boot

The boot of the car will now feature a three-tiered rack system that optimises the boot space and facilitates the easy packing and retrieval of equipment. The bottom tier of the rack houses the hardware for the ANPR system.

The spare tyre compartment has been repurposed as extra storage space to accommodate the increased boot load. Every piece of equipment in the boot is individually tagged with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag. With the aid of a handheld reader, officers can determine if any piece of equipment is missing in seconds.

ORIGINAL SOURCE
Content used in this not-for-profit blog remain the property of their respective owners.