security robot commits suicide

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A security computer patrolling the grounds of a Washington, D.C., office building tragically "drowned" Monday in the building's decorative wading pool.

At least it looked drowned to CrystalMD founder Bilai Farooqui, who shared a photo of the hapless bot of lying face down — or maybe it was face up — in less than two feet of water. It's possible that the robot, a Knightscope K5 security robot, could be fine if someone blasts it with a hair blower or maybe drops it in a vat of rice.

The mobile, nosecone-shaped K5 security robots are designed to patrol areas such as office buildings, malls and parking lots to "gather data with smart eyes and ears." They guide themselves through "complex environments" by using video cameras, LIDAR, thermal imaging, license plate recognition, GPS and proximity sensors.

Unfortunately, all those feature did not prevent the machine from rolling down a few stairs and into an indoor pool that lacked 360-degree fencing.

Stacy Dean Stephens, Knightscope's vice president of marketing and sales, said in an email that incident was an isolated event and is under investigation. She noted that no people were harmed and said that the robot would be replaced per a service agreement.

This is not the first time a K5 robot has ended up on its back. In April, a K5 was assaulted by an allegedly intoxicated man and knocked to the ground in Mountain View.

And last July, a K5 unit made headlines when it ran over a 16-month toddler, hurting his leg and foot, at the Stanford Shopping Mall.

Knightscope, which has 24 locations in five states including one in Mountain View, deploys "commanding–but friendly" security robots in malls , corporate campuses and data centers.

According to the company, the fully automated, autonomous data machines operate around the clock and are outfitted with cutting-edge technology designed to protect people and property.

http://www.sfgate.com/weird/article/Security-robot-drowns-in-D-C-office-building-s-11295004.php