Technology is advancing at a rapid pace, no longer is it futuristic to consider that video technology could alert you to an impending robbery or burglary. CCTV systems presently can recognise suspicious behaviour. They can pick out criminals faces in a crowd. They will detect firearms and automatically inform authorities of a hold up in progress. Workers don’t need to risk their lives by pressing panic buttons in full view of their attackers.
The internet of things, IoT is becoming the latest trend. Small sensors attached to almost anything you can think of, report changes in inertia, temperature, light, power conditions, water levels etc etc.. All this information can be used to build a picture of the “normal” condition of a home. If anything, out of the ordinary happens, homeowners can be alerted and take the necessary action.
Back in 1997, the Deep blue supercomputer succeeded in beating the reigning world chess champion. This ignited huge interest in AI and today’s API’s can be used to recognise any objects and name them with almost 100 percent accuracy.
Microsoft offers web services that can read emotions. Imagine the system implemented to judge the mood of a crowd developing outside a courtroom. AI would dispatch the correct resources to reduce the risk of a crowd becoming violent.
Knightscope produced a robot that replaces a human security guard. The advantages are numerous. No sleeping on duty is just one! The robot does its patrols and using its cameras, reports anomalies back to a central control room. The manufacturer rents them out for seven dollars (R 100.00 / hour)
Seattle-Tacoma Airport is piloting a system using robots to assist travellers. It spots travellers who need to remove belts, scarves etc before they pass through security. It approaches them and informs them. They offer assistance with directions to gates and even cleans the floors.
Robots that are concentrated in these areas of use will offer security companies the ability to place “feet on the ground” in a cost-efficient manner, thus saving significant costs of human guards.
The more mundane jobs typically associated with outlying locations can be reassigned to robots and humans can be assigned to more important aspects like manning a control centre.
Onguard is actively pursuing these technologies and busy with experimental concepts for the South African Market.