A pilot program has been initiated by a school in New Mexico, United States, where a robot is deployed to patrol the campus 24/7. This initiative is in response to the increasing incidents of school shootings, and various companies are now offering robots to schools nationwide, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
A pilot program has been initiated by a school in New Mexico, United States, where a robot is deployed to patrol the campus 24/7. This initiative is in response to the increasing incidents of school shootings, and various companies are now offering robots to schools nationwide, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
At Santa Fe High School, this robot is being trained to recognize the school’s normal activities and identify individuals who are present on campus after hours or display aggressive behavior. In the event of an active shooter or any other form of threat, the robot will notify the security team. It will approach the intruder and transmit video footage to inform law enforcement officers about the situation. Although the robot is not armed, it can engage with intruders, and security team members can communicate with the intruder through the robot’s communication system.
During the pilot test, the school has chosen to disable the robot’s weapon detection capabilities. The security team is currently evaluating whether these features can be added later, according to Mario Salbidrez, the executive director of safety and security at Santa Fe Public Schools.
The report states that the robot does not possess facial recognition capabilities, and the school retains ownership of the video footage, giving them the discretion to decide whether or not to save it.
In the event of an armed intrusion, the robot can take more assertive action, such as aiming a laser beam at the suspect’s chest and requesting them to drop their weapons (YouTube/KRQE). Thus far, the robot has not detected any intruders on campus but has alerted the security team to new workers entering the school construction site and individuals attempting to open locked doors in harmless attempts to gain entry to the buildings.
The cameras have also captured faculty members waving at them and students making peace signs. While one student seems unaffected by the presence of the robot and is uncertain if her peers will take the “additional surveillance” seriously, a film studies teacher named Reed Meschefske feels secure at the school even without the surveillance measures. He believes that the robot can help monitor blind spots on the extensive campus that often go unnoticed.
Many other school districts are considering using robots for security purposes, and a co-owner of a robotics firm, Robert Stokes, mentioned that his company is working with multiple districts across the country.
In most cases, schools plan to utilize robots in the classroom to teach coding to students. However, if an armed invasion occurs, the robot can take more aggressive measures, such as pointing a laser beam at the suspect’s chest and demanding that they drop their weapons.
The robot pilot program at Santa Fe High School is being managed by Team 1st Technologies. The estimated cost for the 2023-24 academic year ranges from $60,000 to $70,000.
