Police across the globe use 'smart helmets' to strengthen fight against coronavirus

To strengthen the fight against coronavirus, police and authorities across the globe have started using 'smart helmets' which take only a few seconds to accurately scan people’s temperature. 

With quick thermal screenings being considered as one of the options to identify COVID-19 patients, the technology will be particularly useful in restarting the economy and ensuring the safe movement of people in public places.

Dubai police are using the helmets to screen people in densely populated areas, including sealed off neighbourhoods.

The smart helmets, used by the Dubai police, also has facial recognition capabilities, license plate recognition and the ability to scan QR codes.

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"The helmet has up to 5 or 6 different modes. It has the temperature reading mode, facial recognition capabilities, plate number recognition, QR code reader and ultimately this all connects together to give you the history of a person," said Managing Director of Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit, Namir Hourani. 

Meanwhile, Rome's Fiumicino airport has also started using smart helmets to ramp up its safety measures as airlines begin to resume services again.

"This is a smart helmet, a helmet equipped with a thermal camera capable of detecting the infrared heat emissions of bodies passing through its range and a normal camera. The pictures are then transmitted to a visor inside the augmented reality helmet that projects what the operator sees on his visor," said Sielte Spa senior engineer, Massimiliano Moretto.

Even in the Chinese city of Shenzhen, which shares a border with Hong Kong, police have started inspecting people drivers with the help of these smart helmets.

The helmets help quickly and accurately spot people with abnormal temperatures in crowds.

Chinese company KC Wearable says it has sold more than 1,000 of the temperature scanning helmets and has received orders from the Middle East, Europe and Asia.

While screening devices like the N901 smart helmets have obviously added value in helping businesses and public places reopen more safely. 

(With inputs from agencies)