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The humanoid inspector can identify faces, read body language, track luggage and perform thermal scanning. Image Credit: Courtesy: Dubai Customs

Dubai: A humanoid robot customs inspector — the first of its type in the world — has won an award at a global competition held in Germany.

The robot, which belongs to Dubai Customs, won for the best idea at the World Ideas Awards 2016, organised in Frankfurt late last month.

Ideas were gathered from different organisations during 2016 and submitted to an international jury to select one single idea as the “World’s Big Idea in 2016.”

The robot is capable of doing inspection tasks and can be equipped with inspection and tracking technologies. It’s tasks include face identification, body language reading, luggage tracking, and thermal scanning.

“It’s no stranger to Dubai Customs to innovate and come up with new winning ideas,” said Sultan Bin Sulayem, the Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation.

The robot is part of Dubai Custom’s “efforts and journey to facilitate trade and movement of cargo and passengers,” Bin Sulayem added. The executive is also the chairman of Dubai ports giant DP World.

“This award urges us to keep up the good work in order to always be an example to follow as a world-leading customs administration,” said Ahmad Kazim, a Dubai Customs official.