Hooligans planning to disrupt the FIFA World Cup in Brazil this summer will have to arm themselves against an unusual foe, after the South American country announced plans to police venues with military-grade robots. The Brazilian government has signed a $7.2 million deal to buy 30 so-called PackBots from Massachusetts-based …

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Friday 21st February 2014 08:30 GMT Anonymous Coward

Do they really think that they will be able to control the unrest in Brazil with a few robots?

The areas will have to be swamped with police and army.

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1. Friday 21st February 2014 11:21 GMT solo
  
  Not to fight
  
  As per the vendor's site, the iRobot 510 PackBot is more like moving webcam.
  
  - Explosive Ordnance Disposal
  
  - Explosives Detection
  
  - HazMat Detection
  
  - Surveillance / Reconnaissance
  
  - Checkpoint, Vehicle and Personnel Inspections
  
  - Building and Route Clearance
  
  - Emergency First Response
  
  But yes, saving these cute robots from the fans may require iRobot 710 Warrior. Let us hope the Brazilians don't give them an excuse to start the rising.
  
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2. Friday 21st February 2014 23:22 GMT Euripides Pants
  
  "Do they really think that they will be able to control the unrest in Brazil with a few robots?"
  
  They can if the robots are...
  
  PIRANHABOTS!!!
  
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Friday 21st February 2014 08:46 GMT Rustident Spaceniak

18kg? No match for a hooligan!

Given their technical spec, those bots might be of some use against really serious evildoers but certainly not against groups of drunk, feisty Brits intent on a bit of fun.

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1. Friday 21st February 2014 18:34 GMT Captain DaFt
  
  Re: 18kg? No match for a hooligan!
  
  In fact, they'll probably end up being used as weapons by said hooligans.
  
  "Oi need som'tin heavy ta throw... Er, here comes one now!"
  
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Friday 21st February 2014 09:14 GMT Nya

Are these the ones which ok, are a wheelbarrow but they've mounted something like a 50cal to the top of it?

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Friday 21st February 2014 10:23 GMT Graham Marsden

Come and have a go...

... if you think you're hard enough. You have ten seconds to comply...

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Friday 21st February 2014 12:46 GMT launcap

One hopes..

>first remote-controlled robot to enter the stricken Fukushima nuclear facility

.. that it's the same robot being used in Brazil!

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