In Switzerland, residents have been witnessing a patrol robot created by a robotics start-up called Ascento, affiliated with ETH Zurich. This robot could soon replace human security guards and has already been used by Swiss security firm Securitas AG.
ETH Zurich has shared a video demonstrating the agility of the new security guard. This robot can efficiently patrol multiple locations, navigating different terrains effortlessly. However, the question remains: Can it match the vigilance of a human?
According to Ascento, their patrol robots have been successfully boosting security and improving operational efficiency in various trial locations, such as a Swiss railway depot.
These robots feature foldable “legs” and “feet” in the form of wheels. The “head” of the robot houses the computer, battery, sensors, and cloud-based AI.
“It can go over flat terrain, it can go over obstacles, it can even go [up] one or two steps and this is because we use wheels and legs” Alessandro Morra, CEO and founder of Ascento.
The robot uses a thermal camera to identify people and vehicles, and a 360° camera to capture images of its surroundings. It can establish a live feed connection with a backup operator in a control center.
The robot can flex its knees, move on any surface, climb stairs, leap forward and upward, and hop over obstacles.
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The company claims that its robot guards allow a single human security guard to monitor outdoor areas which would typically require a large workforce and cost less compared to employing a human guard.
“We wanted to help and our robots are able to make the life of these guards a lot easier” said Morra.
In October 2019, a robotic patrol robot known as RoboCop gained attention for failing to assist a woman in distress. Despite the woman pressing the emergency button, the robot repeatedly instructed her to stay away.
The reason behind this incident was revealed later: the HP RoboCops, developed and leased by Knightscope, was not directly connected to police departments. Instead, when the emergency button was activated, it would notify Knightscope, who then had to contact the police.
Hopefully, the new robots deployed in both cities will be more effective in preventing crime compared to the RoboCop incident.
