Robot Security Guards - AIMing for Automated Vehicles

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Paul Grayson

Robot Security Guards
December 3, 2007

IN THE OLDEN DAYS
Years ago I had the good fortune to work with the Navy's leading mobile robotics scientist/engineer, LCDR H. R. (Bart) Everett and his team working on a variety of robots for government customers. A government agency said when all the expenses were totaled they were spending $1 million per year per manned guard position and asked if we could we build machines that could do the job for one million dollars a copy. "Yes" was the immediate answer. The early models were mobile cylinders full of sensors. The customer came back and since part of a security guards job is intimidation asked if future batches of guard bots could be made to look scary. "Yes" was the immediate answer and Robart III pictured below was the result of that work. It also sounds scary as its chain gun spins up. It can be seen in action at http://www.nosc.mil/robots/movies/rob3coke.mpg since the robots are backed up by and spot for a SWAT team, there was no need for the robots to be licensed to kill. Although lethal force was authorized for this customer, we opted to promote the less-than-lethal options available on the robot and let SWAT team do what they do.

The main use of security guards is to keep the bad guys away and call for help when needed. To accomplish this mission sophisticated wired alarm systems with a mobile or roving unit to check out the situation "in person" can go a long way to reducing false alarms and detecting anything out of the ordinary.

THE NEED
Since the first special service robots went into use by government agencies many commercial companies producing guard bots have come and gone. In almost every case they were laboratory robot companies and not industrial machinery companies. The need for security robots has not gone away, it has only become greater. In this age of heightened security, guard bots need to make a comeback, this time based on well proven industrial AGV designs. Imagine an unmodified, production model AGV carrying a security package as its load and patrolling the warehouse it is guarding. It could automatically swap batteries and keep on going as they do on factory floors. All the advantages of factory AGVs doing the job would apply along with a few additional one that give them big advantages over human security guards.

WORTH MORE THAN GOLD
In the case of chip makers I have been told that if you reach into the bin at the end of electronics chip making line that you can hold one million dollars worth of chips in one hand. If you reach in with the other hand you are holding another million dollars worth of chips. If you start putting handfuls of chips into sandwich bags and putting them into your pockets, each handful is another million dollars. Add to this the fact that chips are nearly as good as cash and you have a serious security problem if you are a chipmaker. Other industries have similar security problems. Then too there are hazardous materials that must not fall into enemy hands. With temptations like these the only sure way to protect assets is to have machines guard them.

GUARD BOTS
Machines have many advantages over human beings as guards. They do not call in sick, they are not late for work, they can not be bribed or blackmailed. They have no hidden agenda of their own and can not be subverted by a foreign government or ideology. No matter how boring the routine they do not fall asleep on the job. As a wirelessly connected part of the alarm system, interfering with their operation triggers the alarm.

2007 DARPA URBAN CHALLENGE
One of the 2,500 pictures taken by AIM Team members Linda and Tom Graham at the Victorville, CA race. A close look at the sponsors of this vehicle reads like a Who's Who of R&D.