Crime-fighting robots are now being utilized in various settings like hotels, casinos, malls, and police departments, thanks to technology from Knightscope.

These robots, designed to “deter, detect, and report,” were demonstrated by co-founder Mark Santana Li and Jonathan Carroll of X9 Intelligence at Northside Baptist Church in Baltimore.

X9 distributes Knightscope’s robots and is seeking to engage with the Baltimore Police Department.

The robots are equipped with 360-degree cameras and can assist with emergencies through a security call button, which connects users to a human handler.

They can also use facial recognition to identify wanted criminals or grant access based on preset permissions.

Privacy concerns were addressed, emphasizing that audio recording is limited to emergencies and video footage is deleted after 30 days unless needed for evidence, WAMR ABC 2 Baltimore has reported.

While some residents expressed concerns about privacy, others supported the technology for its potential to reduce crime.

The cost of deploying the robots ranges from $10-12 per hour for an annual contract. The technology has seen varied success in other cities, with a reduction in 911 calls in Las Vegas but mixed results in New York City.

Written by B.C. Begley