Robots with sensors and artificial intelligence are providing security and site checks in office buildings and other locations.
Key Details
- Robots that are five feet tall and move at three miles per hour are taking security jobs as the robots never get tired, can work overnight, and are cheaper.
- Using a robot guard rather than a human can save a company $79,000 per year, according to a recent report by Forrester Research.
- The robots come armed with sensors and artificial intelligence to monitor suspicious activities and call a human officer if it needs assistance.
Why it’s news
Robots have been doing work normally performed by humans—from delivery drivers to window washers and now security guards.
Security robots are beginning to replace security guards in office buildings, apartment complexes, malls, and other patrolling locations. The robots typically stand around five feet tall and patrol the area at three miles per hour.
The robots come equipped with sensors and AI to detect mishaps but also allow them to check in visitors and issue badges, respond to alarms, report incidents, and since they move around the area, they can record areas security cameras cannot reach.
The robots are also equipped with two-way communication technology, so in case an emergency happens that the robot cannot handle, it can call authorities or another human security guard to step in.
Not only are the bots capable of so much, but they are also cheaper than having a typical human guard. Using a robot guard rather than a human can save a company $79,000 per year, according to a recent report by Forrester Research.
And they are becoming particularly valuable because of the inability of many staffing firms to find humans to fill these positions.
Cobalt Robotics is a leader in providing robotic guards for office spaces. The company creates its robots specifically for the building it will be for. It is built for the specific facility’s stairs, elevators, and other areas.
The robots patrol all day and night, and if it sees a problem or something unusual, it is programmed to report back to a human call center so the issue can be resolved.
“People can tap on the screen of the robot, a person will come up on the screen, and they’ll be able to ask them what’s going on,” says Cobalt Robotics COO Mike LeBlanc. “They can say, ‘There’s a leak or spill over here,’ or ‘There’s someone in the office who’s making me uncomfortable.'”
The robots are not foolproof yet as the bots have been known to have malfunctions. Some bots have been reported running over people’s feet or not realizing when someone is in distress, but many companies are working to improve the bots and start delivering them to buildings worldwide.