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Uber Hires Robot Security Guard

The Knightscope K5 robot got the nod for the job of parking lot security guard. Actually two of them - one recharges while the other patrols.

Uber drivers who pay a visit to the company’s inspection lot near Mission Bay in San Francisco will be met with a rather strange sight: a five-foot-tall, white, egg-shaped robot wheeling around the lot, on the look-out for trouble.

The robot is a K5, a 300-pound security robot made by Silicon Valley start-up Knightscope. It’s a stand-in for a human security guard. Stacy Stephens, Knightscope’s VP of marketing, says Uber is a recent customer of the company.

“For the cost of a single-shift security guard, you get a machine that will patrol for 24 hours a day 7 days a week,” said Stephens, citing wages of $25 to $35 hour for a human security guard.

Compare to the security guard robot from the 1985 film Runaway by Michael Crichton.


(Security guard robot from Runaway)

As far as I know, Philip K. Dick was the first sf writer to imagine security guard robots. See this reference from his 1955 short story The Hood Maker:

"Halt!" A robot guard appeared, streaking toward them across the field. "Identify yourselves!"

Franklin showed his clip. "I'm Director level. We're here to see the Senator. I'm an old friend."

Automatic relays clicked as the robot studied the identification clip.
(Read more about guard robot)

Via fusion.

Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 6/23/2016)

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