The Knightscope security robot has been super-charged to help security services identify weapons hidden in bags, clothing or other places a criminal would conceal a knife, gun or other malicious object.
The security device is called the K1. Although it’s a stationary device, unlike the K3 and K5 that are designed to roam buildings and outside areas, its capabilities are above the moving ‘bots.
It uses millimetre wave technology to scan anyone walking in its path for weapons, which is the same tech used by TSA body scanners used in airports and other high-security places.
Knightscope also revealed the K7 off-road security robot that can patrol uneven terrain such as airfields and wind farms. It combines cameras, sonar and LIDAR with a rugged design to discover any unusual goings-on at outdoor sites.
However, the company stressed the introduction of its K1 an d K7 robots aren’t designed to replace human security guards, just to support them to make better decisions.
“If you have an open air facility and three-o-clock in the morning, you have someone wandering around … let the guard then know and have the machine do the monotonous, computationally heavy stuff,” said Li. “This is not intended to replace humans.”
13/10/2017: Knightscope security robot appeals for funding
Knightscope has launched a campaign on SeedInvest for extra funding so it can improve its range of security products.
The bullet-shaped robots have been designed to secure against large-scale crime rather than a burglary in a home. The company was inspired to protect businesses and universities, government buildings and more against acts of terrorism or people who are setting out to create a lot of damage.
“We started Knightscope because we were horrified by the mass shooting at Sandy Hook and the impact of 9/11 on our country,” the company explained.
“And now the ongoing daily increase in violence globally has intensified our efforts. We want to build something great for our country and we believe down to our bones that we can use technology to help build safer, engaged communities while significantly reducing costs and reducing crime.”
Knighscope has two models available, both of which feature a whole raft of sensors to detect suspicious activity and alert people to it.
The Knightscope K5 for outdoors and Knightscope K3 for indoors use automation to roam areas rather than having to be controlled by a person and they use thermal imaging and HD video to check out their surroundings. The data taken from the robots can be accessed via the Knightscope Security Operations Center (KSOC) user interface, which can be used on desktop or mobile.
Knightscope said its robots reduce the cost of having human security guards on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to just $7 an hour, so make protection a lot cheaper for organisations who take their security seriously.
The Knightscope security robots have been tested by Uber in its car parks, using the mobile security cameras to scan people and car registrations to make sure they knew who was going in and out of its facilities.
