Controlling the Herd

Robo Cop Has arrived: K5 Autonomous Data Machine that the Developer Wants in Every School

“This is like R2-D2’s evil twin. Once you enter public space and collect images and sound recordings, you have entered another realm. This is the kind of pervasive surveillance that has put people on edge.”

Chris Carrington

Published on

December 23, 2013

Photo: Knightscope

Knightscope has unveiled its five feet tall, 300 pound crime fighting robot. According to the company the robot is designed…

“…to augment private security services on corporate campuses and in large, vacant buildings and warehouses. Tedious and monotonous monitoring should be handled by the K5, leaving ‘hands-on’ activities to security personnel…

“We founded Knightscope after what happened at Sandy Hook. You are never going to have an armed officer in every school.” (source)

The robot will be equipped with data collection interfaces as well as cameras and infrared sensors. Not everyone is pleased about the development of K5.

Marc Rotenberg, director of the Electronic Privacy and Information Center said:

“This is like R2-D2’s evil twin. Once you enter public space and collect images and sound recordings, you have entered another realm. This is the kind of pervasive surveillance that has put people on edge.”