NYPD to Deploy Robocop
NORTH AMERICANEW YORK CITYENTERTAINMENT
the Knightscope K5 Autonomous Security Robot will act as a crime deterrent and provide real-time information to deploy human officers effectively in safety incidents.
The NYPD is introducing a 420-pound, 5-foot-2-inch robocop equipped with a large camera for patrolling the Times Square subway station in a two-month pilot program. During a press conference held in the subway station, Mayor Eric Adams explained that the Knightscope K5 Autonomous Security Robot will act as a crime deterrent and provide real-time information to deploy human officers effectively in safety incidents. The robot features multiple cameras, a button for public communication with a live person, and a speaker for audio communication. It's expected to enhance the city's surveillance network. During the pilot program, the robot will patrol from midnight to 6 a.m., initially with a human handler, and then it will operate solo. The cost-effectiveness of the robot, leased for $9 an hour, was emphasized by Mayor Adams, comparing it favorably to a human transit cop. The introduction of such policing technology has raised concerns among privacy advocates and budget-conscious citizens, although the NYPD stated that the K5 robot would use video surveillance only and not audio or facial recognition technology.