Attention New York City subway riders, have you noticed something new and shiny on your commute? Meet K5, the crime-fighting robot, ready to make your subway rides safer and more secure. But hold on, is it really a good idea to have a roving robot watching over us? Let’s take a closer look.
First things first, K5 is not your average Joe. It stands at an impressive 64.5″ tall, weighs a whopping 420 pounds, and looks like a giant cone with wheels. It’s equipped with four ultra-HD (4K) cameras that provide complete 360-degree visibility, a thermal camera that detects differences in heat, LED lights, 16 microphones, and an amplified PA speaker/horn. Talk about being high-tech.
K5 moves autonomously and can avoid obstacles and people with a maximum speed of 3 miles per hour. However, it’s not a completely unaccompanied bot. An officer accompanies it as it patrols the subway system. It also comes with a charging station or “docking station” for the robot to rest and recharge.
Now, you might be wondering who’s behind this technological marvel. Well, it’s part of a pilot program by the New York Police Department (NYPD) to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) robots in the subway system. The NYPD is reportedly renting K5 for $9 an hour from Knightscope. The company claims that its robots can reduce crime. The NYPD says that K5 can act as a physical deterrent to crime, as well as on-the-ground eyes to record those who commit crimes for future prosecution.
But why stop there when we can get a statement from the team at Knightscope themselves? When asked for comment on this hi-tech partnership, they responded with, “With so many crime-fighting wins accumulated across the United States to date, Knightscope is honored to continue its work with public safety clients like NYPD, helping to protect the places people live, work, study, and visit.” Well, I guess we’re all pretty sold now.
Alright, jokes aside, it’s great to see the NYPD investing in technology to keep us safe. But, as with any new technology, there are always concerns about privacy, surveillance, and job loss. So, while K5 roams the subway, let’s hope that the appropriate safeguards are in place to ensure that we reap the benefits of this new addition without any unintended consequences. Stay safe, New Yorkers!
