A new breed of security guard has been deployed to patrol Silicon Valley: Robot guards who have joined the fight against crime and look like they've stepped straight out of a science fiction movie.
At first glance, the “K5” security robots look like cartoon characters from Star Wars.
“The vast majority of people see them and exclaim, ‘Oh my God, they’re so cute!’ Many get the courage to hug them or cheer them on for whatever reason,” says Stacy Stephens, co-founder of the manufacturer, Knightscope.
"They are unarmed, but imposing: at 1.5 meters tall and weighing 140 kilograms, potential perpetrators will certainly think twice before committing a crime in their presence.".
"The first thing that's going to happen is the burglar sees the robot. And unfortunately, criminals are inherently lazy. They're not looking for something confrontational, they're looking for an easy target," Stacy Stephens points out. "They'll see the robot and they'll likely move on to the next, easier target."
Security Robots are autonomous, meaning they operate on their own. They don't chase criminals or make arrests. They are designed to prevent potential confrontations.
"When someone enters the robot, it will stop. It will then redirect its path around that person. At the same time, throughout the events, video is sent to the control center, where a human is watching."
“If a would-be burglar persists,” Stephens says, “then the robot looks at the video, listening for sounds like breaking glass and any loud noises that a burglary might make. The robot, depending on the situation, continuously collects evidence, such as license plates, vehicle images, etc., while also recording the geotagged location, and the exact time of the incident.”.
Robots have been developed to mainly guard outdoor spaces.
[alert variation=”alert-info”]The robots patrol using technology similar to that of Google's self-driving car, thus choosing which path to take.[/alert]
If someone decides to attack the robot, it will emit an audible warning and notify the control center. The audible warning will become louder as the threat persists.
“A very, very loud alarm,” Stephens says. “Think of a car alarm, but much louder.”.
But what is the cost of hiring a personal guard, within the framework of the Robot-as-a-Service model adopted by Knightscope?
Currently, interested parties can hire the services of a well-equipped robot guard, paying the not inconsiderable sum of $4,500 per month, for full 24/7 security, which is equivalent to approximately $6.25 per hour(!).
Interested parties can express their interest through the official Knightscope website.
