Miami-Dade County just welcomed a new member to its sheriff’s fleet, and this one drives on its own. Unveiled this week among the bustle of a luxury automobile showroom, the Police Unmanned Ground Patrol Partner—PUG for short—marks the first time a U.S. law enforcement department has brought out a completely autonomous patrol vehicle. Built on the strong frame of a Ford Police Interceptor Utility, the PUG drives familiar streets without a human behind the wheel, keeping an eye out for trouble via a bank of cameras and sensors.
Policing Lab, a charity that matches cops with computer specialists to test real-world solutions to everyday policing difficulties, spearheaded the development years ago. They collaborated with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, the largest force in the Southeast serving 2.7 million people, to bring this concept to fruition. Perrone Robotics provided the brains, with their TONY system transforming the Explorer into something that can navigate city blocks with ease, clocking miles on anything from deliveries to security jobs. The entire package was a donation with no strings attached, though subsequent models could fetch $150,000 to $200,000 if other departments came calling.
Sensors define the PUG’s edge, transforming a simple drive into a mobile command center. A full circle of cameras captures every viewpoint, and thermal imaging detects heat in the dark—ideal for scanning lots after hours or during storms. License plate readers ping databases in real time, identifying stolen vehicles or wanted tags and summoning backup quickly. Up above is a drone bay, ready to launch a bird’s-eye view of a scene and stream video directly to deputies’ dashboards.
For the next year, a deputy rides shotgun, watching from the passenger seat as the PUG takes the lead on predetermined routes. Assigned to the Community Affairs Bureau, it begins with public events such as fairs, block parties, and school visits, where citizens can interact with a Truleo dashboard tablet. That screen launches an app for brief chats: report a pothole, flag a suspicious corner, or simply ask how it works.
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