110 In operation | Knightscope K5 security robot alerted to any issues with power levels or battery health, and they can address any necessary maintenance or upgrades. The KSOC is a browser-based interface that provides access to live HD video streams from the robot’s 360o camera system, recording and storing the video and downloadable files for evidential purposes, plus many other functions, including the automated detection of intruders, alerts to the presence of people in restricted areas and direct communication with them. The K5’s thermal cameras provide early detection of fires, heat blooms from recently driven vehicles, which can be important in locating suspects, for example, and can detect people concealed in darkness and shadows. K5 and other machines in Knightscope’s product suite operate on a Machine-as-a-Service (MaaS) model, with clients paying between $650 (£512) and $5,500 (£4,335) per month to deploy ASRs on a full-time basis, Li says. MaaS includes not just the robot itself, but an entire operational support structure: docking, software upgrades, maintenance and, if desired, the company’s 24/7 RTX service. This model eliminates the need for clients to establish their own technical support, making ASRs more accessible and user-friendly to security-focused organisations. Li emphasises that this maintenance strategy, embedded in the MaaS concept, is informed by practical field experiences, where theoretically maintenance-free parts sometimes proved otherwise under real-world conditions, as elaborated on later. Conservative approach Knightscope’s approach diverges from other models of robotics development by emphasising slower, high-persistence operation rather than striving for highspeed or human-like intelligence. As Li explains, the philosophy follows a model based on gradual advances in speed and complexity. So, rather than designing the robot to function at variable speeds under diverse conditions, the K5 achieves optimal results at a low speed, maximising safety and reliability. Li’s background as an automotive executive informs his critical perspective on the approach to autonomous vehicle (AV) technology in the robotics industry. He is skeptical of the AV industry’s aggressive push towards high-speed, full autonomy, asserting that the commercial viability of such systems remains uncertain after billions of dollars in investment. Its approach resembles “the aerospace equivalent of trying to go to Pluto before even visiting the Moon”, focusing on achieving advanced goals without the requisite foundational experience, he says. Li is more than critical of overambitious robotics projects, particularly where autonomous road vehicles are concerned. “I’m in violent disagreement about the path to commercialise the technology,” he says. “I think it’s an idiotic assignment to say, hey, I need to put a 4,000 lb uncrewed vehicle on a public road at a random time of day in a random climate with no legal framework, no insurance framework, no safety framework, and please make sure it works 100% of the time and doesn’t kill anyone. I’ve been saying this for 10 years.” Knightscope’s more conservative philosophy is anchored in creating immediate, revenue-generating solutions that function reliably within defined operational limits. This philosophy has proven effective, positioning the company as one of the few that currently operates at scale with full autonomy. December/January 2025 | Uncrewed Systems Technology The browser-based KSOC interface allows users to issue the robot with commands, receive its camera and acoustic feeds, monitor its position and view operational statistics I think it’s an idiotic assignment to say, hey, I need to put a 4,000 lb uncrewed vehicle on a public road… with no legal framework, no safety framework
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