Oct 30, 2017 - Technology

Robot security guards are hitting the streets

A K5 robot made by Knightscope, Inc., patrols the floors of Westfield Valley Fair shopping center in San Jose, Calif. Photo: Ben Margot / AP

Robots that double as security guards are growing as a presence in cities across the U.S., per McClatchy DC. The bots, equipped with laser scanning, 360-degree video, and thermal imaging are self-sufficient, cheaper than human beings, can work 24-hour days, and require no benefits.

Yes, but: Letting the bots loose on the streets can be dangerous, and some manufacturers are still working out how to ensure the robots don't hurt pedestrians in their path. Meanwhile, no mechanism to hold the robots, or their human operators, accountable has been established yet. "If you have a robot with no distinguishing marks, who are you going to call?" A. Michael Froomkin, a University of Miami Law School professor, told McClatchy.

Go deeper: This story is the latest example contributing to the fear of humans losing their jobs to robots.

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Axios
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Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

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  3. Politics: Trump says he's prepared to sign executive orders on coronavirus aid.
  4. Education: Cuomo says all New York schools can reopen for in-person learning.
  5. Public health: Surgeon general urges flu shots to prevent "double whammy" with coronavirus — Massachusetts pauses reopening after uptick in coronavirus cases.
  6. World: Africa records over 1 million coronavirus cases — Gates Foundation puts $150 million behind coronavirus vaccine production.
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