Next time you are at a parking lot, mall, or even a corporate campus, don’t be alarmed if you see an ominous-looking, missile-shaped object roaming around at a steady pace. You might just be looking at the Knightscope K5 Autonomous Data Machine making the rounds to make sure everything is in place.
The K5 may not exactly be the real-life R2-D2 that you’ve been looking for, but it sure does promise to take physical security surveillance to the next level. According to the Mountain View, California-based manufacturer, it’s like the smart eyes and ears for a security officer.
Equipped with numerous sensors, lasers and lots of software, the K5 can move around in a fenced area on its own, giving security officers an unprecedented option to understand an environment at all times. Over time, it will be able to “see, feel, hear and smell”, says the company.
Given its possibilities, K5 sure has caught the attention of vertical markets that require the deployment of security guards. According to Stacy Dean Stephens, Vice President of Marketing & Sales at Knightscope, the company has seen the most interest from corporate campuses, logistics centers, shopping malls, data centers and big-box retail stores.
One of the main attractions is the cost-savings, which can be as much as 75 percent, according to Stephens. That this robot effectively brings together hardware, software, and humans, to be a complete end-to-end solution could be the real game changer.
Most importantly, though, it’s not just a small device. The K5 is 5 feet tall, 3 feet wide and weighs over 130 kilograms (300 pounds) with a commanding physical presence. The actual presence of law-enforcement personnel often acts as a strong deterrent against crime. With its size and looks, K5 could intimidate a potential criminal.
It can even be integrated with traditional security systems. “We have an API that will allow customers to integrate with their existing infrastructure, or they may simply open a separate browser window to run alongside other software,” Stephens said.
At present the K5 is available only in the U.S., but Knightscope plans their global launch at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.