14 POWER INNOVATION www.vicorpower.com Issue 2 2023 Power Electronics Europe www.power-mag.com Knightscope’s autonomous security robots patrol with superhuman acuity and detection prowess A fusion of innovative robotics, self-driving technology, vehicle electrification and artificial intelligence `The concept of automated policing began as a science-fiction concept years ago, but today it is real and impactful. The sophistication of robot-powered security is actually even more interesting if you spend a few minutes talking to Stacy Stephens, the co-founder and chief client officer of Knightscope, Inc. Launched in 2013, the Mountain View, CA, public safety technology services company was the first in the world to deploy mobile, fully autonomous security robots (ASRs) in public spaces such as malls, parking lots and neighborhood parks. The Knightscope vision was to find a more effective means of deterring crime while minimizing risk to law enforcement officers. Describing Knightscope as a leading public safety tech company, rather than a robotics organization, Stephens said their expertise includes a fusion of robotics, selfdriving technology, vehicle electrification and artificial intelligence. Combined, they yield an agile platform upon which numerous types of sensing capabilities and other technologies can be integrated to provide actionable intelligence. Next-generation of ASR surveillance capability Knightscope ASRs have a wide array of features and capabilities. These include a 360-degree 4K video system, two-way audio, license plate recognition, thermal imaging, people detection, facial recognition and signal detection for mobile devices. ASRs are equipped to scan for known threats, allowing companies to reduce workplace violence by providing facial recognition capabilities and parking lot security by using exception monitoring to ID the license plates of cars that don’t belong on site. With their audio feature, ASRs provide two-way communication, giving the robots broadcast capability that allows them to engage with the surrounding environment. This permits first responders to de-escalate hostile situations by putting a robot in place of a person. “The ASR’s ‘talk-down’ feature takes the danger off the human and puts it on the robot,” Stephens said. “Robots are a nondescript object that allow a conversation to take place without having a person in front of a hostile suspect that could unintentionally escalate the situation.” ASRs also can be used as a public address system in the event a building must be quickly evacuated. In addition to spotting bad actors, the ASR’s facial recognition feature is used by one casino to identify VIPs, who are now greeted before they even enter the building. As Stephens points out, ASRs take on boring, routine and monotonous activities that free up security personnel for more hands-on, strategic or customer servicerelated activities. And they reduce the likelihood of injury and death for both public safety professionals and perpetrators. “They also lower operating overhead,” Stephens said. “ASRs never get sick, and they don’t take vacations.” Infusing technology to drive ASR autonomy All of Knightscope’s mobile robots are completely autonomous, using a system of LIDAR, GPS, sonar, IMUs, 4K cameras and high-fidelity audio. Just as people have five senses, the robot has five sensor types to manage its surroundings. And in nearly every instance, the robot’s senses are more acute than a public safety officers. The first of these, situated on top of the robot, is the LIDAR. This includes a series of lasers with another set positioned at eye-level, along the robot’s waistline, on Knightscope’s mobile robots are completely autonomous, using a system of LIDAR, GPS, sonar, IMUs, 4K cameras and high-fidelity audio. The robot has five sensor types—similar to humans but with far greater acuity.
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