From New York to Hawaii, people can spot security robots equipped with a suite of sensors patrolling the perimeters of some residential communities and apartment buildings.
Security robots are rapidly becoming a viable complement to human security guards, sparking concerns about privacy issues and potential job losses in the security field. Critics are also raising questions about their effectiveness of keeping the public safe.
Showing their capability as a reliable security solution is tough 鈥 there is lack of public data to prove it. However, experts and manufacturers say their true strength lies in working alongside security officials with their advanced technologies.
Here鈥檚 what we know about security robots:
Security robots possess an array of tools that humans lack, making them unique partners to security systems:
Security robots can operate 24/7 and excel in the repetitive aspects of the job, like sitting at a post or walking a set route. Robots allow humans to perform hands-on tasks that require empathy and sympathy.
The K5 security robot is the most well-known product of California-based robotics and security technology company Knightscope.
These robots are not equipped with any form of deadly force, according to Knightscope co-founder and Executive Vice President Stacy Stephens.
Knightscope is not the sole manufacturer of security robots either. AI and robotics company Cobalt AI manufactures a security robot that patrols hallways, office spaces and indoor facilities.
It has a built-in screen, which enables real-time human-to-human interaction, allowing remote communication between security officials and people on-site.
Advanced robotics company Boston Dynamics manufactures a line of robots called 鈥淪pot,鈥 which is used by police departments, manufacturers and construction companies. Its primary objectives include detecting dangerous gases like carbon monoxide and navigating hazardous environments unsafe for humans.
Jay Stanley, a senior policy analyst for the American Civil Liberties Union, acknowledged the unique capabilities of security robots lie in completing tasks and navigating areas that are unsafe for humans.
New York Mayor Eric Adams speaks during a press conference at the Times Square subway station about a Knightscope K5 autonomous security robot that was set to patrol the station. (Barry Williams / NY Daily News / Getty Images via CNN Newsource)
Security robots are roaming some streets in Atlanta and San Diego, among other U.S. cities, and their presence is expanding into police departments, where they are being integrated into law enforcement operations.
In 2023, New York Mayor Eric Adams and the New York City Police Department unveiled a Knightscope K5 to patrol Times Square and the city鈥檚 metro system while accompanied with a police officer.
This February, NYPD confirmed the robot had completed its trial run and was subsequently removed from the streets. No additional information was available about why the robot did not continue serving the city.
Earlier this year, Massachusetts State Police deployed a Boston Dynamics Spot, a four-legged robot, during a seven-hour standoff with a suspect in Boston, according to . Roscoe the robot took a bullet while trying to locate the gunman.
in San Diego earlier this year, according to CNN affiliate KFMB. One is monitoring the area of an apartment community in Claremont, where it operates 24/7 to keep residents safe and ward off car thieves, according to the robot鈥檚 operator.
Earlier this month, an apartment building in Atlanta . It roams the sidewalks outside the buildings to monitor the perimeter and protect residents.
John Hassard, a loss prevention and security expert with Robson Forensic, says the greatest strength of security robots is their ability to serve as a highly customizable extension to an existing security system.
鈥淥ne would assume these are not entry level products, so if someone buys these, they already have a pretty good camera system that they鈥檝e optimized reasonably,鈥 he said. 鈥淭his extends that. It makes that camera system more valuable.鈥
For example, Knightscope鈥檚 robots are designed to collaborate with existing security infrastructure and surveillance systems, according to Stephens.
Knightscope provides security software, which allows the robots to issue alerts when an anomaly is detected. Depending on the situation and the sensor used to detect an issue, an alert will be broadcast to the security system or department where the robot is deployed and ask for a guard to investigate an issue.
Robots can also be programmed for various outputs based on the sensors they wield. Robots deployed in a parking garage with license plate recognition can create lists of license plates to flag and alert to security staff.
Hassard also believes security operations can cut down on the number of guards they deploy with these devices as long as a location already has effective surveillance infrastructure in place.
鈥淵ou could cut down the number of security officers working, replacing them with this,鈥 he said. 鈥淏y default, this thing doesn鈥檛 take breaks, doesn鈥檛 fall asleep, and you absolutely know what its responses are going to be.鈥
Experts and one robot maker CNN spoke to agree on the deterrence capability of security robots.
鈥淲hen people come onto a campus and you see this large, 5-and-a-half-foot tall, 3-foot-wide, 400-pound robot that says security or police on it, that鈥檚 what people start to think about,鈥 Knightscope鈥檚 Stephens said.
The robots鈥 ability to serve as a physical deterrent can help defuse situations that may escalate if a police officer were present instead, according to Paul Scharre, executive vice president at the Center for a New American Security.
鈥淚f someone vandalizes a robot and bashes it up, you鈥檝e got a video recording of them committing an act of vandalism, and you find that person and prosecute them,鈥 he said. 鈥淣o lives are lost, no people are harmed in the incident.鈥
However, Scharre explained the robots can provoke incidents, as they have a physical presence.
鈥淚f the robot is sort of labeled as a security robot or police robot, it could be perceived by people as being intrusive and interfering on their privacy,鈥 he said.
What鈥檚 not known, however, is what the data says about how effective these robots are in deterrence, Hassard said. The lack of data could stem from companies not wanting to admit they had security issues in the first place, he added.
鈥淒eterrence is a huge thing in security because we don鈥檛 want to catch people doing stuff. We want to keep them from doing it, which is tough to measure,鈥 he said.
Knightscope, founded in 2013, deployed its first security robots in the US in 2016. (Knightscope, Inc. via CNN Newsource)
Stanley from the ACLU said security robots can be a privacy nightmare for everyday citizens.
鈥淚f these robots are making decisions about who to watch based on some AI, that raises enormous questions about profiling, fairness and transparency,鈥 he said.
The lack of transparency of the robots鈥 algorithms and intelligence is what worries Stanley. Should someone have an adverse interaction with the robot, there should be legal liability protections set in place by whoever is operating the robot, he said.
鈥淎nd that鈥檚 true with any sort of AI device, whether it鈥檚 a robot or just an algorithm running in software,鈥 he said.
For example, Knightscope鈥檚 robots do not have access to national criminal databases and their mobile models are not equipped with facial recognition software, according to Stephens. However, Knightscope manufactures a stationary model of the K5 that can use facial recognition software.
People need to start thinking about how they should interact with robots as they become more advanced, according to Scharre.
鈥淭hings to think about as you start deploying security robots, are all about how we interact with the technology, how do we perceive it, how do people respond to it?鈥 he said.
A future with more advanced and intelligent security robots capable of automated enforcement and more automated surveillance could be a problem that would need to be addressed in the future, Stanley said.
While the vision of security robots patrolling our streets feels like a glimpse of what鈥檚 to come, that future remains uncertain without a proven track record to back it up.
These robots are not immune to malfunction, nor are they flawlessly programmed. In 2016, a K5 and slightly injured a toddler in a California mall. The next year, another K5 into a fountain in a Washington, DC, office building.
Those malfunctions and the lack of data beg another question. Stanley questioned why any security or police department would choose to purchase a robot over traditional options like static surveillance systems or human security guards.
鈥淚t鈥檚 hard for me to imagine that they鈥檙e going to work out anytime soon in the marketplace when there are other technologies that can do a job, and also when human beings can just do the job.鈥
For some young people, a popular method for getting a quick high is by misusing laughing gas 鈥 and lately, that鈥檚 in the form of nitrous oxide from products sold by the company Galaxy Gas.
The more Chelsea Walsh talked to the eccentric fellow American who seemed to pop up in every square and cobblestone street of Ukraine's capital, the more she got creeped out.
The end of the day 鈥 when school, extracurricular activities and homework are (hopefully) finally done 鈥 is the window that many kids have for downtime. It can be a struggle to convince them not to go on their phones.
Twenty-seven year 麻豆影视 reporter and anchor John Vennavally-Rao shares his story of what it was like to have an ostomy bag as part of his health-care battle. 'I鈥檓 grateful for what it did to extend my life,' he writes in a personal column for CTVNews.ca.
A $2.14-billion federal loan for an Ottawa-based satellite operator has Canadian politicians arguing about whether American billionaire Elon Musk poses a national security risk.
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris on Saturday accepted an invitation from CNN to debate former U.S. president Donald Trump on Oct. 23.
Tattoos are becoming more common in today's society and, as a result, appear to be more acceptable in the workplace than they used to be.
Looking after an adult with severe autism can be a full-time job. Ask any parent who has a child severely affected by autism spectrum disorder 鈥 it鈥檚 a job that can get more difficult as the child becomes an adult.
An Ontario woman is among the dozens of people who have come forward to allege that they were sexually abused by London-based businessman Mohamed Al Fayed, the former chairman and owner of Harrods.
A man is facing numerous drug trafficking charges after Dufferin OPP seized a large assortment of drugs and weapons in Orangeville earlier this week.
The 75-year-old building, formerly the Waskesiu Chamber of Commerce building, was relocated to the Parks Canada compound on the edge of the townsite.
Mattea Roach among the Maritimers honoured with the King Charles III Coronation Medal Friday.
Montrealers can get used to taking a stroll on several car-free streets during the summer in the years to come thanks to a new commitment from the city.
An Ontario woman is among the dozens of people who have come forward to allege that they were sexually abused by London-based businessman Mohamed Al Fayed, the former chairman and owner of Harrods.
Advocates have identified the woman who died this week after being shot by police in Surrey, B.C., as a South American refugee who was raising a young daughter.
Sheba, a 50-year-old seal at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary in southwest England, has far surpassed the average lifespan for seals and could be the oldest in captivity in the world.
The more Chelsea Walsh talked to the eccentric fellow American who seemed to pop up in every square and cobblestone street of Ukraine's capital, the more she got creeped out.
The death toll from an Israeli airstrike on a Beirut suburb has risen to 31, including seven women and three children, Lebanon's health minister said on Saturday.
A New Zealand pilot held hostage for more than a year in the restive Papua region of Indonesia was freed Saturday by separatist rebels.
An Israeli strike on a school in northern Gaza on Saturday killed at least 22 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, while the Israeli army said it targeted a Hamas command centre in what used to be a school.
A $2.14-billion federal loan for an Ottawa-based satellite operator has Canadian politicians arguing about whether American billionaire Elon Musk poses a national security risk.
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly says close to 45,000 Canadians are in Lebanon, months after warning there is no guarantee Ottawa can evacuate them if the situation deteriorates further.
The federal firearm buyback program has cost taxpayers nearly $67.2 million since it was announced in 2020, but it still hasn't collected a single gun.
For some young people, a popular method for getting a quick high is by misusing laughing gas 鈥 and lately, that鈥檚 in the form of nitrous oxide from products sold by the company Galaxy Gas.
Looking after an adult with severe autism can be a full-time job. Ask any parent who has a child severely affected by autism spectrum disorder 鈥 it鈥檚 a job that can get more difficult as the child becomes an adult.
Canada is setting aside $151 million for the fight to eradicate polio worldwide. International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen announced the news at a Rotary International conference in Toronto.
If something looks too good to be true, it might be. That's the message from Saskatchewan horticulturists after customers have come into their stores hoping to buy purple apple trees this month.
The owner of the shuttered Three Mile Island nuclear power plant said Friday that it plans to restart the reactor under a 20-year agreement that calls for tech giant Microsoft to buy the power to supply its data centers with carbon-free energy.
Lebanese authorities on Thursday banned walkie-talkies and pagers from being taken on flights from Beirut airport, the National News Agency reported, after thousands of such devices exploded during a deadly attack on Hezbollah this week.
Kathryn Crosby, who appeared in such movies as 'The 7th Voyage of Sinbad', 'Anatomy of a Murder,' and 'Operation Mad Ball' before marrying famed singer and Oscar-winning actor Bing Crosby, has died. She was 90.fff
'Saturday Night Live' will have a slew of famous faces to help kick off its historic 50th season when the show returns later this month.
The death of the Tragically Hip鈥檚 lead singer Gord Downie united fans across Canada in their grief, but in many ways pulled his bandmates apart.
It is not a great time to be a coffee drinker. In general, coffee bean prices are the highest they've been in more than a decade.
Experts say rising team valuations and the desire to forge a legacy are likely at the heart of what motivated Rogers Communications Inc. executive chair Edward Rogers to bolster the company's portfolio of Toronto professional sports teams.
Boeing said on Friday the head of the company's troubled defence, space and security unit is leaving the planemaker effective immediately.
Tattoos are becoming more common in today's society and, as a result, appear to be more acceptable in the workplace than they used to be.
The end of the day 鈥 when school, extracurricular activities and homework are (hopefully) finally done 鈥 is the window that many kids have for downtime. It can be a struggle to convince them not to go on their phones.
While slang may come and go, experts say the phenomenon behind them, which constantly churns out brand-new bon mots, is as old as language itself.
Cole Haas is more than just an avid fan of the F.W. Johnson Wildcats football team. He's a fixture on the sidelines, a source of encouragement, and a beloved member of the team.
Andre De Grasse, fresh off of winning Olympic gold in the 4x100-metre rally in Paris 2024, has been in Toronto for the latest few weeks as part of the Toronto International Film Festival.
Heading into Friday鈥檚 game against the Calgary Stampeders, quarterback Trevor Harris said he and his Saskatchewan Roughriders were "ready to rock."
General Motors (GM) has issued a recall for 38,000 vehicles for safety risks related to a software glitch, Transport Canada reported in a notice on Wednesday.
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has accused Tesla CEO Elon Musk of 'remotely disabling' his Cybertruck, which had been sent to the frontline of Russia's war in Ukraine.
An Ontario man says it is 'unfair' to pay a $1,500 insurance surcharge because his four-year-old SUV is at a higher risk of being stolen.
Cole Haas is more than just an avid fan of the F.W. Johnson Wildcats football team. He's a fixture on the sidelines, a source of encouragement, and a beloved member of the team.
Getting a photograph of a rainbow? Common. Getting a photo of a lightning strike? Rare. Getting a photo of both at the same time? Extremely rare, but it happened to a Manitoba photographer this week.
An anonymous business owner paid off the mortgage for a New Brunswick not-for-profit.
They say a dog is a man鈥檚 best friend. In the case of Darren Cropper, from Bonfield, Ont., his three-year-old Siberian husky and golden retriever mix named Bear literally saved his life.
A growing group of brides and wedding photographers from across the province say they have been taken for tens of thousands of dollars by a Barrie, Ont. wedding photographer.
Paleontologists from the Royal B.C. Museum have uncovered "a trove of extraordinary fossils" high in the mountains of northern B.C., the museum announced Thursday.
The search for a missing ancient 28-year-old chocolate donkey ended with a tragic discovery Wednesday.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is celebrating an important milestone in the organization's history: 50 years since the first women joined the force.
It's been a whirlwind of joyful events for a northern Ontario couple who just welcomed a baby into their family and won the $70 million Lotto Max jackpot last month.
A six-year-old girl who was reported missing in northern B.C. earlier this week remains unaccounted for, and "significant resources from across the province" have joined in the search, police said Saturday.
The British Columbia election campaign is set to officially start today, with Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin issuing the writ for the Oct. 19 vote.
A man who was found dead behind a curling rink in Nanaimo, B.C., earlier this month was the victim of a homicide, police confirmed.
York Regional Police say they are looking for a homicide suspect after a wellness check led police to a body at a home in Richmond Hill early Saturday.
Toronto police say they have now identified a third person who they believe was involved in a shooting that left two men dead in North York earlier this week.
A man is fighting for his life in hospital a day after a vehicle smashed into several others in and around an intersection in Milton before flipping over.
The man charged with fatally stabbing lifelong Banff resident Ethan Enns-Goneau in 2022 has been convicted of second-degree murder.
A robust crew of volunteers are raising funds and awareness for first responders and veterans Saturday at Calgary police headquarters in northeast Calgary.
Heading into Friday鈥檚 game against the Calgary Stampeders, quarterback Trevor Harris said he and his Saskatchewan Roughriders were "ready to rock."
A joint police operation to promote safe driving on Highway 417 in the Ottawa area has resulted in laying dozens of charges in three hours Friday, according to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).
Whether it was a big truck, or a small one, the construction trucks rolling past the Children鈥檚 Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) on Saturday had a very important job, and it's putting smiles on the faces of little ones.
The 17th annual Canada Army Run is scheduled to take place Sunday in Ottawa, impacting traffic throughout downtown.
Montrealers can get used to taking a stroll on several car-free streets during the summer in the years to come thanks to a new commitment from the city.
Three men were injured after trying to subdue a man armed with a knife during afternoon prayers at a Montreal-area mosque Friday afternoon.
Some residents in Notre-Dame-de-Gr芒ce (NDG) are raising concerns about the decision to repave the de Maisonneuve bike path, arguing that other roads in the borough should be a higher priority.
Tattoos are becoming more common in today's society and, as a result, appear to be more acceptable in the workplace than they used to be.
Saturday is Community League Day in Edmonton.
The death of the Tragically Hip鈥檚 lead singer Gord Downie united fans across Canada in their grief, but in many ways pulled his bandmates apart.
Halifax Regional Police warned the public of a series of high-value thefts targeting retail stores Friday.
The Lower Sackville area in Nova Scotia has access to a new section of trail, according to a news release from the government of Canada on Saturday.
Kings District RCMP in Prince Edward Island is investigating a fatal, single-vehicle crash that occurred on 48 Road in Head of Cardigan on Friday.
The search for a missing six-year-old boy in Shamattawa is continuing Friday as RCMP hope recent tips can help lead to a happy conclusion.
Three men are facing charges after a traffic stop netted $70,000 worth of cocaine on Thursday.
While slang may come and go, experts say the phenomenon behind them, which constantly churns out brand-new bon mots, is as old as language itself.
The last two months after losing her daughter Bella have been extremely difficult for Kyla Thomson.
Regina police arrested three youths in connection to a bear mace incident at a Regina high school on Friday.
Heading into Friday's game against the Calgary Stampeders, quarterback Trevor Harris said he and his Saskatchewan Roughriders were "ready to rock."
Protests were held in front of Kitchener City Hall on Friday, both for and against LGBTQ2S+ inclusive education and queer rights in schools.
The provincial government is considering new rules to restrict a municipality鈥檚 ability to install new bike lanes if it means traffic lanes would be removed.
Police said the pedestrian, a 52-year-old man, was taken to an out-of-region hospital with life-threatening injuries and the driver of the vehicle failed to remain at the scene.
Heading into Friday's game against the Calgary Stampeders, quarterback Trevor Harris said he and his Saskatchewan Roughriders were "ready to rock."
The City of Saskatoon is proposing changes to the proposed downtown shelter site plan following feedback from nearby residents and businesses.
The 75-year-old building, formerly the Waskesiu Chamber of Commerce building, was relocated to the Parks Canada compound on the edge of the townsite.
Emergency crews in northern Ontario found the bodies of four people inside a home where a fire broke out Thursday night.
For some young people, a popular method for getting a quick high is by misusing laughing gas 鈥 and lately, that鈥檚 in the form of nitrous oxide from products sold by the company Galaxy Gas.
An Ontario woman is among the dozens of people who have come forward to allege that they were sexually abused by London-based businessman Mohamed Al Fayed, the former chairman and owner of Harrods.
A motorcyclist has died following a serious collision that took place in London鈥檚 south end on Friday afternoon.
The London Police Service (LPS) is currently investigating a suspicious death in the east end.
The St. Thomas police is asking the public for help locating a missing man.
A man is facing numerous drug trafficking charges after Dufferin OPP seized a large assortment of drugs and weapons in Orangeville earlier this week.
One person is in hospital after an e-bike crash in Orillia on Thursday.
On Saturday, OPP officers responded to a call after a car hit a tree in a parking lot at 8:00 a.m. on West St. S and King St in Orillia.
The Amherstburg Freedom Museum is celebrating of a year of festivities in anticipation of its 50th anniversary in 2025.
The St. Clair College golf teams were successful at the Niagara Knights Invitational tournament on Friday.
A LaSalle high school is celebrating its emerald anniversary this weekend, with everyone who has ever walked its halls invited to return.
A man who was found dead behind a curling rink in Nanaimo, B.C., earlier this month was the victim of a homicide, police confirmed.
A six-year-old girl who was reported missing in northern B.C. earlier this week remains unaccounted for, and "significant resources from across the province" have joined in the search, police said Saturday.
The British Columbia election campaign is set to officially start today, with Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin issuing the writ for the Oct. 19 vote.
A pair of runaway pigs are in the custody of an animal sanctuary in the Okanagan after evading police and volunteers for hours earlier this week.
The Red Bridge, a historic landmark in Kamloops, B.C., was completely destroyed by fire early Thursday morning.
Animal protection officers in British Columbia have rescued three pit bulls 鈥 including one that gave birth to 10 puppies 鈥 from a rat-infested home in Kelowna.
Despite the heavy rain, plenty of muscle turned up for United Way鈥檚 annual Pull the Bus fundraiser in Lethbridge Friday.
Lethbridge County has rescinded its fire restriction as a result of the recent cool, wet weathr.
The Lethbridge Hurricanes kicked off the 2024-25 season on a winning note Friday night, defeating the Edmonton Oil Kings 3-1 in a game played at VisitLethbridge.com Arena.
A 26-year-old driver from Surrey, B.C., has been charged with three counts of criminal negligence causing death and bodily harm in a crash that killed two youths in northern Ontario last year.
Ontario Provincial Police say three suspects from southern Ontario have been charged and drugs worth $300,000 have been seized following a traffic stop Sept. 16.
A Brampton driver, 27, was charged this week when northern Ontario police stopped the SUV he was driving on Highway 17 after a reported shooting and found more than $100,000 in cash.
Newfoundland and Labrador's chief medical officer is monitoring the rise of whooping cough infections across the province as cases of the highly contagious disease continue to grow across Canada.
A 16-year-old biennial event aimed at fostering business in the country's eastern Arctic and northern regions has been cancelled indefinitely as a dispute unfolds between Inuit in Canada and a Labrador group claiming to share their heritage.
Jim Lester鈥檚 farm hopped on the cow-cuddling trend in early August, and his time slots have been pretty well sold out ever since.
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at 麻豆影视. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop.聽Read about us.
