Security robots started patrolling

The New York Police Department (NYPD) is implementing a new security measure at the Times Square subway station. Authorities announced that they have deployed a security robot to keep citizens safe. The robot that will patrol looks more like a large version of R2-D2 from Star Wars, rather than the first images that come to mind.

Robots start patrolling

The robot named K5, which weighs approximately 190 kilograms, has no hands or feet. Although K5 can record video with its 4 cameras, it cannot record sound. The robot will patrol the station from midnight to 6 a.m. during the trial run, which will last for the next two months. However, K5 will not be on full patrol for a while, as it will spend its first two weeks mapping the station and only going around the main areas, not the platforms.

It’s not entirely clear whether the NYPD will live stream the machine’s footage and whether law enforcement will watch what it records. New York Mayor Eric Adams said during the event where the robot was introduced that it would “record video that can be examined in case of an emergency or crime.”

On the other hand, the K5 does not have a facial recognition feature – at least for now. Therefore, there are doubtful opinions about the functionality of the robot. Clearly K5 is not capable of responding to actual emergencies on the station. The only real-time help it can provide people is to let them immediately report an incident or call for help via the button on top.

The future is taking shape

However, the K5 robot, produced by the California-based company Knightscope, is being rented by New York City for approximately $9 an hour for the next two months. Yes, for now the K5 is useless in most scenarios, but it offers a clear vision for the future. Law enforcement and security personnel impose a cost burden on municipalities and states. A robot working for $9 an hour works well below minimum wage. Moreover, this robot does not need to rest, eat or go to the toilet. And robots are expendable. Earlier this year, the Mayor also announced that the NYPD would purchase robot dogs for $750,000 each to be used in hostage and other critical situations.