Regular passengers of the subway were bound to be confused when they first laid eyes on the NYPD’s latest addition. It is known as K5. This weird-looking robot, which looks like something straight out of “Star Wars,” was simply pacing up and down an empty platform.
Trust us – it’s not a hoax. The NYPD has actually been testing this bad boy in empty spaces. But truth be told, it could lose a few pounds. Standing at five foot two, and weighing just shy of 400 pounds, this robot might be better suited to the wrestling ring than being on guard duty.
Those who have encountered the K5 have noted how its camera eyes will lock with theirs – as if it is actually taking note of their presence. It seems that the robot can detect what it might judge as suspicious movement, as it is known to stop when a passerby is lurking behind it.
Why Are Police Departments Using Robots?
According to Mayor Eric Adams – the NYPD and New York City, in general, are looking for “cost-efficient ways to bring about safety.” Apparently, the city is renting K5s at about $9 per hour in order to provide surveillance in specific public areas.
And it seems like it’s not just New York that is involved in this robot policing revolution. Around the country, numerous other police departments and companies are using robots similar to the K5, to see if they can perform jobs as effectively as police officers or security guards, but at a lower cost.
Amazingly, some robots being deployed can perform tasks such as replying to 911 calls and even diffusing explosives. The reality though is that human officers have already proven that they can do far more than what the current crop of robots are capable of. However, that gap will only start to get smaller as time goes on…