The City of Dublin has deployed two AI-powered security robots as part of a new two-year pilot program aimed at enhancing public safety in high-traffic areas.
While the robots were dubbed “robo cops”, after a community vote, the city officially named its newest robot “Dubbot” as a nod to both Dublin and the bot’s futuristic tech.
Dubbot is a K5 Autonomous Security Robot developed by California-based company Knightscope. It’s currently patrolling Riverside Crossing Park and the Rock Cress Parking Garage near the Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Dublin branch.
The robot operates in 12-hour shifts, rolling around on its own before returning to a secure dock for charging. Equipped with 360-degree cameras, flashing lights, two-way audio, and a button for emergency calls.
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Dubbot is designed to be a high-tech set of eyes and ears, but it’s not a replacement for human officers.
“If you were to approach the robot and you needed assistance for some reason, didn’t have access to a phone, you could press that emergency call button and it will eventually ring through to our dispatch center,” Officer Joshua Kirby of the Dublin Police Department told ABC.
The bots also stream live video to police and make public safety announcements as they roam. The city emphasizes that they’re just one piece of a broader tech-based safety plan that includes drones, body cams, traffic tools, and license plate readers.
City officials plan to monitor the robot program over the next two years to evaluate its success and determine if the AI tech should expand to other parts of Dublin.
We’ll have to see how this robo project fares, especially considering some scary stories emerging from the world of AI lately.
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