A novel sentinel has begun its duty of safeguarding Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward neighborhood. Recently, Wingate City Lights properties introduced an autonomous, 5-foot-6-inch tall, 420-pound robot provided by Knightscope with the goal of deterring crime along Boulevard, a region noted for numerous violent incidents. The data from Atlanta Police Department exposed that during the recent seven months, Boulevard has been the scene of at least 34 personal crimes including heinous instances of murder, kidnapping, rape, and assault.
This unruly pocket sprinkles the otherwise ‘animated, pedestrian-friendly, flourishing neighborhood,’ as pointed out by Atlanta City Councilman Amir Farokhi. Farokhi, in a conversation with 11Alive, expressed his faith in the Knightscope K5 robot, laden with AI-power to spot inconsistencies, standing as a promising forefront in utilizing new technology to supplement public safety.
The self-guiding machine travels within a specific periphery on its four wheels, leveraging a multitude of cameras and sensors to pinpoint potential risks or unusual activities. Upon identifying any anomalies, the robot notifies a team of human operators stationed at a security hub, who then evaluate the circumstances and plan an appropriate response.
For the moment, this robot appears to be privately owned and is commissioned to survey private property, as inferred from the Wingate City Lights properties emblem inscribed on its body. Wingate is using this opportunity as an experimental venture undertaken in collaboration with the local police department.
The intelligence collected by this autonomous guard is set to be shared with Atlanta PD, acting as an ‘added source of information,’ although the exact details of data retention are yet to be sorted out between the company and the police department. As with any kind of surveillance, the risk of infringing on privacy is always present.
Nonetheless, in a community still recovering from an increase in violent offences, the residents appear to be dismissive of the privacy issues. Andre Johnson, amongst the locals, shared with 11Alive that the prospect of preserving privacy is fading away. To him, what concerned him more was the escalating crime rate, and he mentioned that the region already feels ‘safer than before,’ thanks to the robot.
It’s pertinent to note that the Knightscope K5 is not on its debut security assignment. The same model had gained widespread attention the previous year when it was stationed at the Times Square subway station as part of a security initiative.
Mayor Eric Adams of New York envisaged a money-saving plan by deploying the robot, as the lease costs averaged around a mere $9 per hour, while simultaneously boosting safety measures. However, the plan did not take off as expected and the robot was withdrawn from service just months after its installment.
Unfortunate circumstances such as commuters attempting to vandalize the robot led to the positioning of officers accompanying the device to protect it, as reported by The New York Times. Adding to the problematic issues, the robot had limitations in its operational capabilities, specifically, its inability to ascend or descend stairs.