Knightscope (the K5 beta prototype) is a fully autonomous robot, used to monitor crimes in schools, businesses, and neighborhoods. Its developers stated that development was inspired by the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, and to prevent future crimes.
The K5 robot is 5 feet tall, and 300 pounds. The K5 detects crime using a variety of sensors including video camera, thermal imaging sensors, a laser range finder, radar, air quality sensors and a microphone. The K5 has been developed since 2013 by Knightscope, Inc., a Silicon Valley startup located in Mountain View, CA. A concern is that Knightscope will introduce another means of mass surveillance, a controversial issue.
If the K5 detects abnormal noise and temperature change, or known criminals, it will alert local authorities.
Knightscope K5 is a fully autonomous robot droid, used to predict crimes in schools, businesses, and neighborhoods. It uses a variety of sensors including video camera, thermal imaging sensors, a laser range finder, radar, air quality sensors and a microphone; to find suspicious activity, and alert that activity to local authorities.
The robot appears to be a Knightscope K5 security robot, which are designed to patrol areas such as office buildings and malls, “gather data with smart eyes and ears,” and “guide themselves” through “complex environments.”
The “Autonomous Data Machines” are meant to automatically detect “concerns” or “threats” using LIDAR, video cameras, thermal imaging, license plate recognition, microphones, GPS, and proximity sensors.
http://www.knightscope.com/