Security robot comes to downtown Hayward
The City of Hayward last week began deployment of a new security robot to patrol the downtown civic center parking garage and eventually the grounds of the new Main Library and future Heritage Plaza.
The robot, a Knightscope K5 Autonomous Data Machine, is a pilot project initiated in response to security and vandalism concerns at the Watkins Street garage.
Resembling a sleek, cone-headed version of the Star Wars character R2-D2, it moves on wheels up to three miles per hour, stands 62.5 inches high, 33.5 inches wide, weighing 398 pounds; autonomously recharges for continuous, 24-hour-a-day operation; and is equipped with artificial intelligence, video- and audio-surveillance and recording technology, two-way intercom and broadcast capability, plus parking management, and thermal, person and advanced-signal detection features.
A Security Operations Center staffed by robot manufacturer Knightscope of Mountain View monitors robot alerts and recorded and live-streamed video.
Knightscope robots patrol shopping malls, including Westfield San Jose, big-box stores, corporate campuses and other locations in 15 states.
