The New York Police Department (NYPD) will deploy a robot to patrol the city’s subways. At 5 feet tall and 400 pounds, the Knightscope K5 Autonomous Security Robot is currently on pilot test at the Times Square subway station, working the overnight shift with a human partner.
The robot, K5 is equipped with multiple cameras and two-way communication. It is intended to deter crime and capture crimes in progress. It is equipped with a panic button that riders can use to alert patrol officers. It also has facial recognition capabilities and listening devices.
The robot began its pilot on September 22 for two weeks, to map the station at Times Square. It is accompanied by a human officer from midnight to 6 a.m. to introduce K5 to the public. There are docks where K5 can recharge, like a giant Roomba, the self-directing vacuum. Once the pilot is complete, the robot is expected to patrol the station’s mezzanine level, but not the platforms.
K5 will be accompanied by a uniformed police officer for the first two months of a pilot program-mainly to answer questions from curious riders.
