Robots guards. What is it and why are they needed?

Robots, robots. Everyone is talking about robots. They say that smart machines that can do almost any job better than a person will eventually take our jobs. We here with fellow editors decided to find out, and what, in fact, robots would be better than humans? As an example, they decided to take the robots-guards. And the case turned up. One American startup engaged in the development of such robots managed to raise investments worth about $ 50 million. Are modern technologies already so cool that they are ready to replace a person?

If you now think that the robot guard issuch a “Robocop” with a shotgun at the ready, who walks through the territory entrusted to him and monitors the environment, flashing his digital eyes - better leave this idea for science fiction films and literature. The reality is quite the opposite. In fact, they look like this:

So:

Another way:

And so:

What are security robots for?

In fact, the main idea of ​​the implementation of the ideathe development of security robots is that people in this profession spend most of their time doing almost nothing. Even in the case of some emergency situation (someone broke a window, trying to break into the room; the fire started; the cat under the door is giving birth or cannot get down from the tree) their main task, according to the instructions, is to report as soon as possible about this in all possible ways to the appropriate services, and only then directly act on the situation. In other words, guards must walk around buildings and offices (as well as inside them), controlling the trusted zone and sometimes communicate with people. And, (this is the most important) if they notice something suspicious, they should immediately report it.

Manufacturers of security robots in the worldnot so much. You can count on the fingers of one hand, if you do not take into account the very full consumer goods from a famous Chinese site. There are developments in the USA, China, Japan, India. In Russia, more or less well-known manufacturers of such robots are SMP Robotics, which developed the wheeled robot "Tral Patrol", as well as the company "Promobot".

The current capabilities of the robot guards

Despite the fact that the yard is already 2019 (almosta quarter of the 21st century has passed) security robots in their development have not far gone from the alarm sensors. In fact, this is still the same set of cameras and tracking sensors, only now they are still used together with the mobile platform. In particular, it is possible to distinguish the platform-carts (4 and 6-wheeled with high traffic), for use outdoors, as well as 2 and 3-wheeled platforms, designed to work indoors.

In general, all offers on the market today have the same set of functions:

• Equipped with a laser radar (lidar), which allows you to scan the space for foreign objects and subjects;
• A set of cameras (optical, infrared and so on);
• Various sensors (temperature, toxic gases, and so on), allowing to monitor fire and biological safety;
• In some cases, a digital display through which humans can interact with the robot.

Detecting a contingency situation, the robot guard asusually makes it known to the owner. In some cases, the car can also contact security companies, for example, using prerecorded messages or sending them photos or videos from the suspicious activity site. In principle, this is where his functions end. According to Pavel Dmitriev, one of our authors, “it remains only to teach the crossword puzzles to guess,” and we face the type of a living guard.

Where are patrol robots used?

In the West, the popularity of using robotsquite high. For example, Microsoft was one of the first to hire a robot to patrol and track order around its own office in Silicon Valley, which quickly set a new trend. Some companies, mostly American ones, followed the example of a Windows developer and began to buy, or rather lease, similar robots.

The first practice was not quite the same aspromised by the manufacturer. There were reports that one of the robots decided to drown in the fountain "lost in three pines". Another knocked down a child, sending him to the hospital bed. In this case, the company tried to justify itself, and then to challenge the amount of compensation for the parents' claim. Well, you can write off the shortcomings of the first models. It happened all the same a couple of years ago. New cars are better oriented and do not crash into people. Only benefit from them has not increased.

Robot guard decided to swim

Robots guards in Russia

Robot guards in Russia are also developing. One of the early and unsuccessful attempts to create a robot patrol was the development of Perm R-BOT 001. Makhina weighing 300 kilograms in 2007 tried to use to protect public order. It turned out that in the winter he could not work. After the rain "buggy." In addition, the operator was in charge of its management. Dismissed from service in the same year. Not an operator, a robot.

More modern development is"Promobot", also from Perm, by the way. The machine is offered in various configurations, including in the form of a robot guard. But as a matter of fact, it is a usual robot informer (“hello”, “goodbye”, “go there and there, there”), “adapted” for use as a “police robot”. Practical utility is also questionable.

It has a standard set of digitalcameras with face recognition functionality, connected to a single database of persons (internet connection required), standalone DVRs with memory for two weeks on the built-in storage media. He can also define “words of potential danger” (“bomb”, “terrorist”, “explosion”, etc.). It is easy to imagine the situation that the terrorists who got into the building incognito, where this robot is located, would talk only about terrorism and bombs among themselves. It is then that the robot will give a signal to a real policeman, and they will catch them. Yes.

Four-wheel "Tral Patrol" is designed to work outdoors, but its functions are similar

See also: Robots hire people to work in Russia

How much do they cost?

All the above machines, like all the others,which were not specified, but fall into the same category, are united by one thing - they are useless in terms of the possibilities of physical assistance if necessary. Yes, and what kind of benefits we can say if they are not able to protect even themselves. Examples cited on our site. It is clear that the statement, but in reality everything is like that. These robots do not pose a threat to the same vandals and other violators. The latter will simply flee until the car calls for reinforcement. Yes, they are equipped with cameras. Some may determine people's faces, but until they get to the intruder, and they move slowly, it should be clarified, they will run away without any problems.

See also: When will we have normal home help robots?

Financial benefits from the use of such robotsalso doubtful, despite the fact that this aspect is put as one of the main advantages. The fact is, many of the manufacturers of these robots offer additional paid services, without which, the machine actually becomes completely useless, limited to only the most basic set of features. For example, one of the western companies offers to rent their robot at a price of $ 8 (the price was reduced by the way, it used to be $ 8.9) per hour, or about $ 6,000 per month. By default, the robot shoots video with a resolution of 720p. On a wide-angle camera, the faces of the suspects, if visible, are blurred and shallow. Record in 4K format additionally costs $ 300 per month.

The whole territory where the robot will be usedneed to equip a wireless network Wi-Fi (additional expenses). Such an opportunity as scanning license plates (up to 300) will cost the client another $ 400 a month. And he will talk with people ("Welcome!" And "Stand back, please!") Only for an additional 500 dollars a month. The robot also includes an alarm when it detects an elevated temperature (fire source), but these functions are not included in the basic kit again. The cost of this option package is another $ 600 per month.

As a result, we get a little more than 7,500 dollars. Here, my colleagues and the editorial staff got acquainted with the US labor market and realized that it’s easier for companies to hire three live security guards and pay them an average of $ 2,500 (including insurance and other compensation) than to rent one robot.

In Russia, the situation is similar. True, Promobot and SMP Robotics described above do not rent, but sell their cars. A four-wheel surveillance camera will cost a million two hundred thousand rubles, and a humanoid Promobot from 1.2 to 1.7 million, according to information on their website. The average salary of a guard in Russia is 20-30 thousand rubles (and in fact, even less). Draw your own conclusions.

Robot guards - the usual advertising move

In the USA, in particular, in "Silicon Valley", manybelieve that social problems can be solved with the help of high technology. Startups viedly offer high-tech developments in the field of security, but often they turn out to be just unfair self-promotion and a source of new problems. At the moment, such robots are just an advertising move. Opportunity for large companies to boast to competitors, as well as to their customers - see what we have. There is very little real practical benefit from them.

Also interesting: a robotic cafe opened in San Francisco

At least now there is a situationvery similar to the case of a juicer for $ 400 (four hundred dollars!). With internet, wifi, digital. Everything is as it should be. Expensive, rich. True, with what kind of vegetables and fruits it does not work - you need to buy the ingredients for a smoothie in special bags for $ 8. It can squeeze, and maybe not squeeze. Here and the current robots, guards - can ride on wheels, but can not ride. For everything else - a separate dachshund.

No, of course robots are needed. In the future, they will be able to do a lot of dirty work for a person. But now their functionality leaves much to be desired. Yes, and prices. According to the founder of Hi-News.ru, Mikhail Korolev, the situation with the latter is unlikely to change now. There are few such offers on the market, consider exclusive. Like "iphone".

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