A new batch of security robots equipped with tools to “fight crime” will soon be deployed to shopping malls in America in an effort to help police tackle the problem.
Knightscope showcased crime-fighting robots last week at Arlington Police Department for the University of Texas.
The company unveiled its K5 droids – robots that are four-foot-tall with electric blue lights and a white bullet-shaped body, designed to police indoor venues. It’s sibling, the K5, a taller variation and with a slightly heavier frame, is designed to patrol outdoors.
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Sputniknews.com reports:
Knightscope co-founder Stacy Stephens, believes the technology may help law enforcement to greatly reduce crime.
“Crime has a $1 trillion negative economic impact in the United States each and every year,” said Stephens, a former police officer.
“Long-term, our ultimate goal is to be able to predict and prevent crime,” he said.
The security robots can detect criminal behavior by searching for anomalies including identifying license plates or suspicious sounds, and using a video camera and an array of sensors, from thermal imaging to air quality. They are also equipped with a microphone that a person can use to speak directly to a human operator.
Meet the K3 + K5. See how these robots aim to define the future of security https://t.co/1h0HoipPl5 #Knightscope #SecurityRobot #Innovation pic.twitter.com/mEqJHz2u5p
— Knightscope (@iKnightscope) December 26, 2016
If appropriate, officers will be alerted, or the operators can use smartphones to synchronize with a robot for real-time video of a situation. The devices are continuously recording video and collecting sensor data, including markers to identify nearby wireless devices.
Among reports of the robots’ successes are stories of helping security officers apprehend a thief in a retail environment, tracking down a vandal, and issuing an arrest warrant for a sexual predator, according to Stephens.
Knightscope, initially launched in response to the tragic events at Sandy Hook and the Boston Marathon, has roughly two-dozen robots operating through leases to a number of California businesses including Microsoft, Westfield Shopping Centers, Juniper Network and the Sacramento Kings.
UTA police hosting the demonstration expressed a “definite interest” in the technology, although no official lease arrangement has been announced.
“We’re always looking for new ideas and new technology that will make our jobs safer and easier and protect our communities,” said Assistant Chief Patrick Bridges.
According to Stephens, the robots are intended to augment human-led security efforts by taking away “boring” monotonous work, not as a replacement for guards.
“We draw a very, very thick line between what we do and using it for actual enforcement,” he said. “The humans need to continue to make the decisions.”
