Image: NYPD Launches Knightscope Security Robot Service in Manhattan Subway (Photo: Business Wire).
Knightscope has announced that the City of New York and the New York Police Department (“NYPD”) launched the Knightscope K5 security robot service at a press conference in a Manhattan subway station with the support of the Metrpolitan Transportation Authority (“MTA”).
The first two weeks will be spent on training, configuration and setup protocols for the autonomous robot to navigate followed by patrol activities between the hours of 12:00am and 6:00am.
“Today we are launching a pilot program to test the Knightscope K5 security robot,” said Mayor Eric Adams, City of New York. “The NYPD must be on the forefront of technology and be 2 steps ahead of those utilizing technology to hurt New Yorkers.”
Other police departments have been successfully using Knightscope’s technologies for years, with one Los Angeles County, California, agency praising the Company for reducing crime in a popular public park.
Knightscope offers public safety officials an effective way to augment their agencies, which in many cases are already strained by an alarming decline in law enforcement officers in spite of growing populations.
“This is a good investment in taxpayer dollars,” continued Adams, further advising that the K5 operates “…below minimum wage – no bathroom breaks, no meal breaks.”
“Today we take that notion of tried-and-true policing of assigning a transit cop to their post, and we bring that to a different level,” stated Michael Kemper, chief of NYPD Transit. “It’s fitting that we’re near the theater district, because today the K5 is taking center stage. Welcome to New York City, K5!”
“This will very likely be the highest ridership week we’ve had since the pandemic over 3 years ago, “ said Richard Davey, president of NYC Transit. “Why? Because we’ve been focused on faster service, cleaner service and safer service. This device… it will keep you safe.”
“Twenty-two years and ten days ago, I committed to help better secure our country. I’ve never been as proud of Knightscope and our relentless team as I am today seeing our robot in Federal Blue wearing an NYPD patch on its shoulder.” William Santana Li, Knightscope’s CEO and native New Yorker stated.
