Knightscope’s Success is Everyone’s Success; Investors, Customers, Public and Security Companies

 Robin M. Austin ? 10/07/2018 3:31 p.m.

 Meet Ironmanbot, Ravenbot, Ninjabot and Stormbot, Knightscope’s superheroes designed to patrol and protect your perimeter more efficiently and with less cost than human security guards. Crime-fighting autonomous robot security guards offer Protection-as-a-Service utilizing Artificial Intelligence to accost and report intruders, and broadcast a recorded impeding danger message; “Danger Will Robinson” resembling Robot B-9 from Lost in Space, for example. They are designed not as a complete substitution for your human security guards but to support existing security guards by patrolling and recording activity that looks suspicious back to a customer’s Security Operations Center (SOC).

As of October 2018, unmanned aerial, unmanned ground and underwater vehicles are attracting major investors. Today at The Money Show? in Dallas, Knightscope demonstrated their autonomous security guard robots seeking to raise $50 million in capital consistent with Knightscope’s other capital raises in the last 5 years with running closes on a first-come-first serve basis. Chairman and CEO, William Santana Li states that “Almost all of their finances have been oversubscribed.”

 Knightscope is uniquely positioned by raising funds without venture capital participation. That decision gives them much more control over development life-cycle and the timing of software release roll-outs. Their customer base is expanding. The current public school, University and Church violent crimes, along with those that have occurred in public entertainment forums might have been avoided had each of those perimeters been patrolled by an Ironmanbot or Ravenbot so named by their owners. A Knightscope robot’s presence could have recorded 24/7 consistently perpetrator inclinations capturing early warning signals.

Knightscope’s ground-breaking views of the physical security market and their investment strategy will enable them to capture market share faster than their competitors. There is an open offering unique in its undertaking allowing accredited investors to minimize risk by participating at $8.00 per with a minimum of $25,000. William Santana Li explained “we are poised and ready to build 250 machines for profitability.

Knightscope has taken the correct view that robots can support humans with many tasks, therefore saving time and money but still require humans to make decisions. They have no empathy or sympathy and make precise decisions based on data input and through human control. They can enhance safety and security of all concerned. Adding robots as security guards will reduce overall costs while delivering proactive safety and protection. Knightscope robots are geared to support and enhance current security personnel and to fill the gap in a lack of available security guard personnel.

The K1 is the only stationary security guard offered by Knightscope and unlike the moving robots will be the first to perform weapon detection and is both in-door and out-door. With 360 degree video, license plate detection, signal detection, thermal detection, people detection, intercom, broadcast and live audio, these robots can “see, hear, feel and smell” through sensory data transmitted in real time. The K1 is designed for example to be placed inside an office entry way or any completely visible retail room or outside of a retail doorway where 24X7 video can be shot. With the rise of campus and school violent crime, the K3 or K5 would be ideal patrol units for schools and Universities. They are mobile and have broadcasting capabilities to blast impeding danger.

 There is no facial recognition as of yet due to the necessary detail a captured image requires for accuracy. Although facial recognition is being rolled out in airports and schools, it still needs some improvement to eliminate the false positives. CCTV facial recognition systems are not completely accurate so as the technology advances over time, improved precision and mobility may be on the horizon for robots of this type. Glasses with built-in facial recognition technology are already available.

All of the Knightscope robots, K1, K3, K5 and K7 can accost the intruder scaring the intruder to flee hopefully without incident. Should a gun man enter the room, the K1 robot will be able to detect the gun and broadcast to the people present within the store or entertainment venue an automated message of impending danger, call the police and any number of programmed phone numbers. The gun detection feature is coming out soon for the K1 and when added to all of the units including the motion units K3, K5 and K7, mass shootings may truly be deterred. Video of the scene will provide Law Enforcement irrefutable evidence to arrest criminals and terrorists.

Both the K5 and the K7 motion security guard robots have autonomous motion and autonomous recharging. While at the charging stations, software updates and ongoing digital maintenance occurs. The new larger K7 can travel over multiple terranes and long distances much like a driverless security guard car. Packages are offered with separate feature sets and Knightscope offerings are subscription based.

      Due to the need for sophisticated proprietary functions and tasks, sensors, software and the LIDAR navigation system is mostly proprietary; even the tires need no airing and are made to prevent scratching or scarring floors. Although Knightscope doesn’t make cameras, sonar sensors, batteries or motors (commodity products), the tooling is proprietary and all development is performed in Silicon Valley.

      Knightscope has many paten awards for their technology in the Autonomous Data Machines and Systems area and the Systems and Methods for the Security Data Analysis and Display area. Like any software though, vulnerabilities exist and the units are not completely unhackable; then nothing is.

      Compared to a human security guard who can’t always be alert and present patrolling 24X7 without bathroom breaks, who can’t operate a video recorder constantly and consistently 24X7, and whose cost can be between $15.00 per hour to $57.00 per hour (for gun carriers), Knightscope’s robots are filling a deep gap for necessary protection. Currently, the demand for security guards outweighs the supply and a valid increase in staff could be a Knightscope Security Guard Robot instead of employing a human security guard. The Robots will increase coverage and therefore safety and protection as well as reduce losses due to theft. I believe it is a total win-win for the public, the customer, the current security guards and Knightscope.